The reproductive and metabolic effect of rosiglitazone on Chinese women with polycystic ovarian syndrome--a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study.

Objective: To investigate whether an insulin sensitizer has any effect on amenorrhea and clinical and biochemical hyperandrogenism in Chinese women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

Design: Randomized controlled double-blind trial.

Setting: A tertiary referral center, Hong Kong.

Conflicting perceptions between health care professionals and patients on the psychological morbidity following miscarriage.

Background: Miscarriage is common and may result in significant psychological morbidity for women. Recent research has revealed that health care professionals often tend to neglect this factor. This negligence may lead to delayed diagnosis and appropriate care.

Hepatitis B infection and outcomes of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer treatment.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the associated causes of subfertility, and the outcomes of the first IVF and embryo transfer treatment cycles in these infertile couples.

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Assisted reproduction technology (ART) unit.

Comprehensive assessment of serum estradiol impact on selected physiologic markers observed during in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer cycles.

Objective: This investigation assessed the effect of serum estradiol levels on outcomes of in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF) cycles.

Materials And Method: This was a retrospective cohort study of 1123 IVF cycles comparing impact of estradiol (E(2)) levels on follicular development, fertilization, embryo quality, implantation, pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, and selected obstetric complications.

Results: We found high serum E(2) levels to be significantly associated with increased number of mature follicles and mature oocytes retrieved (p<0.

Higher metabolic risk in Chinese women fulfilling the NIH diagnostic criteria for polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Only about 63% of Chinese women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) as diagnosed by the 2003 Rotterdam criteria fulfilled the 1990 National Institutes of Health (NIH) diagnostic criteria. Although the NIH criteria are not generally applicable to the Chinese population, women fulfilling the NIH criteria have higher metabolic risk than those who do not and so carry the most clinical significance.

Three-dimensional ultrasound features of the polycystic ovary and the effect of different phenotypic expressions on these parameters.

Background: The aim of this study was to quantify the three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound characteristics of ovaries in Caucasian women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and to examine if these values differed between different phenotypic forms.

Methods: 3D pelvic ultrasound was performed in 40 women with PCOS and in 40 controls. Total ovarian volume, stromal volume and echogenicity and antral follicle count (AFC) were measured and ovarian blood flow was quantified using both 3D power Doppler and two-dimensional pulsed-wave Doppler.

Serum vascular endothelial growth factor as a possible indicator of arterial reactivity in postmenopausal women.

Objective: To determine whether serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration is correlated with arterial reactivity in postmenopausal women.

Methods: An observational study was conducted on 24 postmenopausal women who did not receive any hormone therapy in the 6 months preceding the study and had no pre-existing cardiovascular diseases or cardiovascular risk factors. Serum samples were obtained from all participants and analyzed for VEGF concentrations.

Where are we with postmenopausal hormone therapy in 2005?

Recently, two large randomized placebo-controlled studies on long-term postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy, the Heart and Estrogen/progestin Replacement Study (HERS) and the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), have raise a lot of controversies, especially on the cardiovascular aspects. We briefly review these two trials and discuss what we know and do not know about postmenopausal hormone therapy, including the evidence on novel choices such as raloxifene and tibolone.

Vascular endothelial growth factor plays more than an angiogenic role in the female reproductive system.

Although the most well-known function of vascular endothelial growth factor is its angiogenic activity, it plays more than a simple angiogenic role in the female reproductive system as it is involved in a number of key events in the course of the ovulatory cycle. The modulation of vascular endothelial growth factor expression varies in different reproductive tissues, probably related to its various functions at these different sites.

The effect of exogenous estradiol treatment on the mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors in cultured human oviduct mucosal cells.

Purpose: To evaluate the responses of cultured oviduct mucosal cells to exogenous estradiol treatment in regulating the mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors.

Methods: The mucosal layer of the ampullary regions of the human oviduct was isolated and cultured with (study groups) or without (control group) the addition of exogenous estradiol in five different concentrations. Semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed on the oviduct mucosal cells before and after the 6-day culture.

Upregulation of mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors by exogenous human chorionic gonadotropin in cultured oviduct mucosal cells.

The mucosal cells were isolated from the ampullary regions of 20 human oviducts and cultured with or without hCG in five different concentrations (1-100 ng/mL). As analyzed by the semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, hCG treatment significantly increased mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptor flt-1 in the cultured mucosal cells in a dose-dependent manner but had no effect on the expression of another receptor, KDR.

Increased messenger RNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors in the implantation site of the human oviduct with ectopic gestation.

Objective: To compare the mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (KDR and flt-1) in the implantation and nonimplantation sites of the human oviduct with ectopic gestation.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: University-based Obstetrics and Gynecology Department.

A randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study of tibolone (Livial) on menopause symptoms, psychological well-being, and dyadic relationship of postmenopausal Chinese women and their spouses.

Objective: To investigate the effects of 6-month treatment of tibolone on menopause symptoms, psychological well-being, and the dyadic relationship of postmenopausal Chinese women and their spouses.

Design: A randomized, double-blind, crossover study was conducted in 100 postmenopausal Hong Kong Chinese women who received tibolone (2.5mg/day) and placebo.

In vivo regulation of mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (KDR and flt-1) in the human oviduct.

Objective: To examine the localization of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGF-R) and the changes in VEGF-R messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression in various regions of the oviduct from fertile women throughout the ovulatory cycle.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: University-based obstetrics and gynecology department.

Raloxifene therapy in postmenopausal women is associated with a significant reduction in the concentration of serum vascular endothelial growth factor.

Objective: To determine whether raloxifene has an effect on serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration in postmenopausal women.

Design: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Setting: University-based obstetrics and gynecology unit.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis: two cases with different routes of tumor extension.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis is a rare smooth muscle tumor. We report two cases of intravenous leiomyomatosis that grew along different routes of the venous system into the inferior vena cava and the right atrium. The different route of extension makes a difference in the ease of excision of tumor masses.

Increased mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptor (flt-1) in the hydrosalpinx.

Background: The adverse effects of hydrosalpinx on the outcomes of IVF have been well documented, but the mechanisms of hydrosalpinx fluid formation remain unclear. This study compares the mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (KDR and flt-1) in the hydrosalpinx with that in the healthy oviduct.

Methods: Oviduct tissue was collected from 10 infertile women with hydrosalpinx and 10 parous women with healthy oviduct.

The effect of intra-abdominal pressure on the generation of 8-iso prostaglandin F2alpha during laparoscopy in rabbits.

Background: Carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum induces peritoneal oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to verify the effect of intra-abdominal pressure on oxidative stress in the peritoneum and on post-operative adhesion formation.

Methods: Forty-one rabbits underwent laparoscopic surgery: either gasless, or with CO(2)-pneumoperitoneum at pressures of 5, 10 or 15 mmHg.

Repeated courses of antenatal corticosteroids: is it justified?

The benefits of a single course of antenatal corticosteroids on neonatal outcomes are well established. There is, however, much controversy about how long this treatment should continue, and whether repeated courses should be administered if the women remain at risk for preterm delivery 7 days after the initial therapy. This review aims to discuss current evidence on the effectiveness and safety of repeated courses of antenatal corticosteroids.

Climacteric symptoms and knowledge about hormone replacement therapy among Hong Kong Chinese women aged 40-60 years.

Objectives: To evaluate the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), the prevalence of climacteric symptoms, and the knowledge about HRT.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted by telephone interview among a randomly selected population-based sample of 978 Hong Kong Chinese women aged 40-60 years.

Results: Of 414 women with a history of either natural or surgical menopause, 22 (5.

Vascular endothelial growth factor in the human oviduct: localization and regulation of messenger RNA expression in vivo.

In this study, we examined the localization of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the changes in VEGF mRNA expression in various regions of the oviduct in fertile women throughout the ovulatory cycle. Oviduct tissue was collected from 22 women undergoing laparoscopic tubal sterilization or hysterectomy for a benign gynecological condition. Oviduct sections were divided into isthmus, ampullary, and infundibular regions.

Multiple-dose methotrexate for pregnancy in a cesarean section scar. A case report.

Background: Pregnancy developing in a cesarean section scar is a very rare but possibly life-threatening condition because of the risk of rupture and excessive hemorrhage.

Case: A woman with previous cesarean section had transvaginal sonography performed at 7 weeks of gestation that showed a gestational sac implanted in the anterior isthmus wall of the uterus with 3 mm of myometrium between the sac and bladder wall. A diagnosis of pregnancy in the cesarean section scar was made.