Use of a luteal estradiol patch and a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist suppression protocol before gonadotropin stimulation for in vitro fertilization in poor responders.

The administration of a luteal E2 patch/GnRH antagonist protocol before gonadotropins in poor responders may improve ovarian stimulation and result in greater uniformity in follicular development and improved pregnancy rates.

Spontaneous ovarian hyperstimulation caused by a follicle-stimulating hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma.

Objective: To report a case of spontaneous ovarian hyperstimulation resulting from an FSH-secreting pituitary adenoma.

Design: Case report.

Setting: University hospital.

Taking a basal follicle-stimulating hormone history is essential before initiating in vitro fertilization.

Objective: To analyze IVF outcomes in patients with a history of one or more elevations in basal FSH who have a normal basal FSH at the start of their IVF cycle, compared with the general IVF population.

Design: Retrospective clinical study.

Setting: University hospital.

Safety and efficacy of infertility treatment after conservative management of borderline ovarian tumors: a preliminary report.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of infertility treatment in a group of patients after conservative management of borderline ovarian tumors.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: University IVF unit.

Maternal serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels in early ectopic and intrauterine pregnancies after in vitro fertilization treatment.

Objective: To determine whether serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) 11 days after a day-3 embryo transfer were predictive of outcome, in women with normal intrauterine pregnancy (IUP), first-trimester miscarriage (SAB), biochemical (BC), and ectopic pregnancy (EP) after IVF therapy.

Design: Retrospective analysis.

Setting: University hospital IVF unit.

Markedly elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines in maternal serum and peritoneal washing during arrested labor.

Background: The role of inflammatory cytokines in the pathophysiology of arrested labor is currently unknown. We measured levels of inflammatory cytokines in maternal serum and peritoneal washings in arrested first stage of labor to assess the possible involvement of these mediators in this obstetric disorder.

Methods: This was a prospective, case-control study involving 15 women who underwent cesarean section for arrested cervical dilatation (group I), 15 controls who were operated during active labor for nonreassuring fetal heart-rate tracing (group II) and 15 controls who were operated electively (group III).

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-antagonist versus GnRH-agonist in ovarian stimulation of poor responders undergoing IVF.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of GnRH-antagonists to GnRH-agonists in ovarian stimulation of poor responders undergoing IVF.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of our data revealed that 56 patients underwent treatment with a GnRH-agonist according to the flare-up protocol. Patients failing to achieve an ongoing pregnancy (n = 53) were subsequently treated in the next cycle with a GnRH-antagonist according to the multiple-dose protocol.

Severe menorrhagia due to factor VII deficiency successfully treated by thermal balloon endometrial ablation.

Factor VII deficiency, a rare inherited bleeding disorder, is often complicated by menorrhagia leading to severe anemia. These women are treated by repeated blood product transfusions, various hormone preparations, and repeated endometrial curettage. Despite the high risks involved, women with refractory disease were usually advised to undergo hysterectomy.

The human fetal venous system: normal embryologic, anatomic, and physiologic characteristics and developmental abnormalities.

Objective: The introduction of high-resolution ultrasonography combined with color-coded Doppler imaging offered a breakthrough in the evaluation of the human fetal venous system, considerably enhancing our understanding of fetal venous circulation in normal physiologic conditions, as well as providing us the ability to study circulatory changes in abnormal circumstances. The purpose of this study was to describe the normal anatomic development and complex of anomalies of the human fetal venous system and to review recently published series of these anomalies.

Methods: Normal embryologic and anatomic development is described.

The role of inflammatory cytokines in Meigs' syndrome.

Background: Inflammatory cytokines are known to induce capillary leakage and third-space fluid accumulation in numerous gynecologic and nongynecologic disorders. This study aimed to assess their role in Meigs' syndrome.

Case: Evaluation of serum, peritoneal, and pleural fluids retrieved from a patient suffering from Meigs' syndrome revealed high interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels.

Extreme caudal agenesis. Possible drug-related etiology?

Background: Caudal regression syndrome (CRS) is a rare anomaly of the lower body pole that represents a continuum of congenital malformations ranging from isolated sacral agenesis to absence of the lumbosacral spine and major visceral anomalies. While the exact etiology of this syndrome is unclear, maternal diabetes, genetic factors, teratogens and vascular anomalies altering blood flow have been hypothesized to play a role in its pathogenesis.

Case: A fetus had extreme hypotrophy of the caudal body pole, aplasia of the lower spine and complete renal agenesis diagnosed in the second trimester by ultrasound.