Cryopreservation Does Not Affect the Clinical Pregnancy Rate of Blastocysts Derived from Vitrified Oocytes.

Vitrified, or "frozen", donor eggs can either be fertilized and cultured for fresh transfer (group 1), or fertilized and cryopreserved for transfer in a "frozen embryo transfer" cycle (group 2). This study compared the pregnancy rates between the two groups. Frozen donor egg cycles (N = 1213) were analyzed at the World Egg Bank.

A pilot study: estradiol/progesterone effect on cervico-vaginal cytokines in premenopause and postmenopause.

We compared cervico-vaginal cytokines in hormone therapy (HT)-treated postmenopausal women with premenopausal women and explored the association of serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) with cervico-vaginal cytokines. Postmenopausal women were treated with oral E2 1 mg/day for 28 days, with oral P4 100 mg/day added for the last 14 days. Premenopausal women were evaluated over one menstrual cycle.

Heavy menstrual bleeding diagnosis and medical management.

Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is a common gynecological problem that has a significant impact on a woman's quality of life and the activities of daily living. Due to the difficulty in accurately describing menstrual bleeding abnormalities using older terminology, the PALM-COEIN classification system of the Federation Internationale de Gynecologie et d'Obstetrique was proposed to describe and identify the etiology of abnormal endometrial bleeding. As there is no single pathway that is associated with HMB, there are several therapeutic interventions involving different molecular pathways to reduce HMB.

The Effect of Levonorgestrel on Fibrinolytic Factors in Human Endometrial Endothelial Cells.

Objective: The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system is considered a highly effective treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). While LNG has established effects on the stromal and glandular compartments of the endometrial tissue, its effect on the endometrial endothelial cells has not been investigated. We examined whether LNG regulates fibrinolytic factors, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) secreted by human endometrial endothelial cells (HEECs) and determined the steroid receptor through which LNG exerts its effect on the endothelium.

New hysteroscopic techniques for submucosal uterine fibroids.

Purpose Of Review: To review the preoperative preparation, intraoperative equipment and techniques to facilitate hysteroscopic resection of submucous fibroids.

Recent Findings: The use of preoperative ultrasound can guide safe resection of submucous fibroids and should be an integral part of a preoperative workup. The data regarding misoprostol use for cervical dilation prior to hysteroscopy is somewhat conflicting and the decision to preoperatively administer misoprostol should be on a case-by-case basis.

The prevalence and prognostic significance of right ventricular systolic dysfunction in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance is the gold-standard technique for the assessment of ventricular function. Although left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction are strong predictors of outcome in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), there are limited data regarding the prognostic significance of right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction (RVSD). We investigated whether cardiovascular magnetic resonance assessment of RV function has prognostic value in DCM.

Effects of embryo transfer catheters on the endometrial surface noted at hysteroscopy.

Study Objective: To assess the effects on the endometrial surface of embryo transfer catheters using hysteroscopy with ultrasound guidance.

Design: Prospective descriptive study (Canadian Task Force classification III).

Setting: University-based clinical practice.

Hysteroscopic enucleation of type II submucosal uterine leiomyomas using a TRUCLEAR hysteroscopic morcellator: case report and review of the literature.

Objective: We describe a case of complete enucleation of a Type II leiomyoma using the TRUCLEAR™ (Smith & Nephew Endoscopy, Andover, MA) hysteroscopic morcellator (THM) and demonstrate appropriate preoperative assessment and intraoperative surgical principles during this case. Complete hysteroscopic enucleation of Type II leiomyomas is also systematically reviewed.

Materials And Methods: In this case report and review, performed in a tertiary-care university setting, the THM was used for hysteroscopic resection of two submucosal leiomyomas.

The relative proportion of preterm births complicated by premature rupture of membranes in multifetal gestations: a population-based study.

Objective: To compare the relative contribution of premature rupture of membranes (PROM) to preterm births in singleton compared with multifetal gestations.

Study Design: A population-based retrospective cohort study of 291,782 nonanomalous live births in the state of Ohio from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2007, identified through birth certificate data. Frequency of PROM was compared between singleton and multifetal gestations and then stratified by gestational age at birth.

Echocardiographic detection of pulmonary hypertension in extremely low birth weight infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia requiring prolonged positive pressure ventilation.

Objective: The goal of this study was to delineate the epidemiology of echocardiographically diagnosed pulmonary hypertension (PH) in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) requiring prolonged positive pressure ventilation (PPV), and to determine the independent relationship between PH and mortality in these patients.

Study Design: Our retrospective cohort included ELBW infants, with BPD requiring prolonged PPV, hospitalized in Cincinnati, Ohio during 2003-2009, as recorded in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network Database. Following chart review, a logistic regression model was constructed to understand the contribution of PH to mortality in infants with BPD requiring prolonged PPV.

Predicting mortality and rehospitalization in heart failure patients with home monitoring--the Home CARE pilot study.

The increasing worldwide prevalence of heart failure is associated with numerous and protracted hospital admissions. The multidisciplinary team approach together with telemonitoring aims at reducing the number of rehospitalizations, length of hospital stay, and mortality rates. Novel cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices have a Home Monitoring capability, offering wireless, everyday transfer of the essential status and therapy data to the attending physician.

The negative effect of red tape on research.

Purposes: To describe the kind of the difficulties encountered when seeking research governance approval for a nationwide public health and genetic study-the Drug-Induced Arrhythmia Risk Evaluation study-in England.

Methods: Description of the processes followed when seeking research governance approval for the Drug-Induced Arrhythmia Risk Evaluation study-a case control study with annual follow-up of cases and controls over 5 years, set in the English National Health Service (NHS).

Results: The authors describe wide variations in NHS research governance approval procedures in England.