Comparative analysis of the bioaccumulation of bisphenol A in the blood serum and follicular fluid of women living in two areas with different environmental impacts.

Introduction: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a common contaminant widely used in many industrial sectors. Because of its wide use and dispersion, it can be accumulated in living human bodies through both oral assumption and nondietary routes. BPA exhibits hormone-like properties, falling under the class of endocrine disruptors; therefore, it can alter relevant physiological functions.

Fertility specialists' views, behavior, and attitudes towards the use of endometrial scratching in Italy.

Background: Endometrial scratching (ES) or injury is intentional damage to the endometrium performed to improve reproductive outcomes for infertile women desiring pregnancy. Moreover, recent systematic reviews with meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials demonstrated that ES is not effective, data on the safety are limited, and it should not be recommended in clinical practice. The aim of the current study was to assess the view and behavior towards ES among fertility specialists throughout infertility centers in Italy, and the relationship between these views and the attitudes towards the use of ES as an add-on in their commercial setting.

Corneal confocal microscopy alterations in Sjögren's syndrome dry eye.

Purpose: To evaluate light backscattering (LB) in corneal layers in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome dry eye (SSDE) utilizing in vivo corneal confocal microscopy (IVCM) and to determine the eventual association with the lacrimal functional test values.

Methods: A complete ophthalmic evaluation, Schirmer test with and without stimulation, break-up time (BUT) and IVCM were performed on 55 patients affected by SSDE and in an age- and sex-matched cohort of healthy participants (HP). Light backscattering, measures as light reflectivity unit (LRU), detected by IVCM at Bowman's membrane (BM) at 50 μm, at 100 μm and at 200 μm deeper than BM was compared in the two groups.

In vivo human corneal deformation analysis with a Scheimpflug camera, a critical review.

Corneal morphological analysis has greatly improved in recent years, providing physicians with new and reliable parameters to study. Moreover, today corneal functional too is a routine analysis, thanks to biomechanical evaluation allowed by an ocular response analyzer (Reichert Ophthalmic Instrument, Depew, NY, USA). Corvis ST (OCULUS Optikgeräte GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany), that relies on the ultrahigh speed Scheimpflug camera, is a new device providing corneal deformation parameters measured ny scanning the cornea response to an air puff; it is an instrument able to measure intraocular pressure too.

Intraocular pressure evaluation in healthy eyes and diseased ones using contact and non contact devices.

Purpose: To analyze and compare intraocular pressure (IOP) values measured in healthy subjects (HS), keratoconus (KC) patients and patients that underwent myopic photorefractive keratectomy (REF), using Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT), dynamic contour tonometry (DCT), ocular response analyzer (ORA) and Corvis ST (CST).

Methods: The study included 76 eyes of 76HS, 15 eyes of 15 KC patients and 18 eyes of 18 subjects that underwent REF. Each participant underwent a complete ophthalmic evaluation, IOP measurement with GAT, DCT, ORA and CST.

Long-term results of corneal collagen crosslinking for progressive keratoconus.

Purpose: To evaluate long-term keratoconus stability after corneal crosslinking (CXL) with riboflavin.

Methods: In this prospective study, 57 eyes of 55 patients with progressive keratoconus, consecutively treated with ultraviolet A (UVA) - riboflavin CXL, were examined with the corneal topographer Pentacam, the biometer IOLMaster and the analyzer of corneal biomechanics Ocular Response Analyzer before and during a 24 months follow-up after CXL.

Results: Twenty-four months after CXL, there was a significant improvement in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (P<0.

New Scheimpflug camera device in measuring corneal power changes after myopic laser refractive surgery.

Purpose: To assess the accuracy of a combined Scheimpflug camera-Placido disk device (Sirius, CSO, Italy) in evaluating corneal power changes after myopic photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

Methods: Two hundred and thirty-seven eyes of 237 patients that underwent myopic PRK with a refractive error, measured as spherical equivalent, ranging from -10.75 D to -0.

Evaluation of corneal deformation analyzed with a Scheimpflug based device.

Purpose: To evaluate the correlation between corneal biomechanical and morphological data in healthy eyes.

Methods: A complete clinical eye examination of naïve eyes was followed by tomographic (Pentacam, Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) and biomechanical (Corvis ST, Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) evaluation. Linear regression between central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal volume (CV) and anterior corneal curvature measured with Sim'K (SK), versus corneal deformation parameters measured with Corvis ST have been run using SPSS software version 18.

Comparison between Corvis and other tonometers in healthy eyes.

Purpose: To determine the agreement of intraocular pressure (IOP) values in healthy eyes among Goldmann applanation tonometer, dynamic contour tonometer, ocular response analyzer and Corvis. Additionally, to study the relationship between their differences with central corneal thickness (CCT) and corneal curvature (CK).

Methods: Seventy-six eyes of 76 healthy subjects were examined.

Corneal Anterior Power Calculation for an IOL in Post-PRK Patients.

Purpose: After corneal refractive surgery, there is an overestimation of the corneal power with the devices routinely used to measure it. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine whether, in patients who underwent photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), it is possible to predict the earlier preoperative anterior corneal power from the postoperative (PO) posterior corneal power. A comparison is made using a formula published by Saiki for laser in situ keratomileusis patients and a new one calculated specifically from PRK patients.

Evaluation of corneal deformation analyzed with Scheimpflug based device in healthy eyes and diseased ones.

This study was designed to evaluate the correlation between corneal biomechanical and morphological data in healthy eyes, eyes that underwent myopic photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), keratoconus affected eyes, and keratoconus affected eyes that underwent corneal collagen crosslinking (CCC). Complete clinical eye examination of all eyes was followed by tomographic (Pentacam, Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) and biomechanical (Corvis ST, Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) evaluation. Differences among Corvis ST (CST) parameters in the different groups have been performed.

Corneal Biomechanical Changes After Myopic Photorefractive Keratectomy.

Purpose: To study the corneal biomechanical and morphological changes after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and the correlation with morphological parameters.

Methods: 119 eyes of 75 subjects with a refraction ranging between -0.50 D and -14.

Intraocular lens power calculation: a challenging case.

Purpose: To highlight different methods in calculating intraocular lens (IOL) power in the case of undetectable keratometric (K) readings.

Case Report: A 54-year-old woman was referred to us for cataract surgery in her left eye. The slit lamp examination revealed the presence of corneal scars that did not allow us to take reliable K readings.

Epigenetic fingerprint in endometrial carcinogenesis: the hypothesis of a uterine field cancerization.

Transcriptional silencing by CpG island hypermethylation plays a critical role in endometrial carcinogenesis. In a collection of benign, premalignant and malignant endometrial lesions, a methylation profile of a complete gene panel, such steroid receptors (ERα, PR), DNA mismatch repair (hMLH1), tumor-suppressor genes (CDKN2A/P16 and CDH1/E-CADHERIN) and WNT pathway inhibitors (SFRP1, SFRP2, SFRP4, SFRP5) was investigated in order to demonstrate their pathogenetic role in endometrial lesions. Our results indicate that gene hypermethylation may be an early event in endometrial endometrioid tumorigenesis.

Slow cooling of human oocytes: ultrastructural injuries and apoptotic status.

Objective: To identify the damages caused by slow cooling human metaphase II (MII) oocytes comparing the ultrastructure, inner mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim), and apoptotic status of fresh and cryopreserved oocytes.

Design: Experimental study.

Setting: University biology research unit and private IVF unit.