[Clinical recommendations for diagnosing, treatment and monitoring of patients with ovarian cancer -- Croatian Oncology Society and Croatian Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics as Croatian Medical Association units and Croatian Society of Gynecological Oncology].

Ovarian cancer together with fallopian tube represents the fifth most common female cancer in the Republic of Croatia. Epithelial ovarian cancer, serous subtype, encompasses most of malignant ovarian neoplasms. Less common are various non-epithelial ovarian malignancies.

[Clinical recommendations for diagnosing, treatment and monitoring of patients with endometrial cancer -- Croatian Oncology Society and Croatian Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics as Croatian Medical Association units and Croatian Society of Gynecological Oncology].

Uterine cancer occurs mainly in postmenopausal women, usually as vaginal bleeding. Following ovarian and cervical cancer it is the third most common cause of female reproductive system cancer death. Diagnosis is set by analyzing samples obtained via hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy and pelvic / paraaortal lymphadenectomy.

[Clinical recommendations for diagnosing, treatment and monitoring of patients with uterine cervical cancer -- Croatian Oncology Society and Croatian Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics as Croatian Medical Association units and Croatian Society of Gynecological Oncology].

Cervical cancer, in comparison with other gynecological malignancies, mainly affects younger women. It can be prevented trough educational programs, screening and early detection. It also can be efficiently treated when it appears.

Is there difference in perinatal outcome of singleton and twin pregnancies after assisted conception: two-year experience.

The aim of the study was to compare perinatal outcome of singleton and twin pregnancies conceived after assisted reproductive technologies (ART). This retrospective study included singleton and twin pregnancies conceived after ART in the period from January 1, 2007 until December 31, 2008. The study variables were maternal age (years), parity, body mass index (BMI; kg/m2), week (< or =36 (6/7) and > or = 37) and mode of delivery (vaginal and cesarean section), birth weight (grams) and APGAR score (< or = 7; 8-10).

Maternal pre-pregnancy underweight and fetal growth in relation to institute of medicine recommendations for gestational weight gain.

Purpose: Maternal nutritional status is one of the most important factors of fetal growth and development. Consequently, the currently increasing prevalence of underweight women worldwide has come in the focus of interest of perinatal medicine. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of low pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) on fetal growth.

Estrogen replacement therapy improves pulmonary function in postmenopausal women with genital prolapse.

Objective: This study examined the impact of estrogen replacement therapy with spirometry on pulmonary function in surgically castrated (salpingo-oophorectomy) postmenopausal women with genital prolapse.

Methods: The study included 60 postmenopausal women with pelvic organ prolapse. The study received institutional Ethics Committee approval, and all subjects signed an informed consent.

First Croatian transvaginal laparoscopically assisted cholecystectomies.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility and technical aspects of a new endoluminal surgical procedure: transvaginal laparoscopically assisted endoscopic cholecystectomy.

Methodology: Three female patients underwent transvaginal laparoscopically assisted endoscopic cholecystectomy (aged 40, 61 and 33 years). Pneumoperitoneum was created through a 5mm supraumbilical incision.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in uterosacral ligaments tissue of women with genital prolapse.

Collagen metabolism is altered in the pelvic organ tissues of women with genital prolapse. The aim of this study was to compare collagen metabolism by measuring matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression in uterosacral ligament tissues of postmenopausal women with and without genital prolapse. Uterosacral ligament tissues were obtained at the time of abdominal or vaginal surgery from twenty-four patients with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and 21 women who underwent gynecologic surgery for benign indications.

Difference in expression of collagen type I and matrix metalloproteinase-1 in uterosacral ligaments of women with and without pelvic organ prolapse.

Objective: To compare the expression of collagen type I and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) in uterosacral ligament biopsies from women with and without pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

Study Design: Uterosacral ligament biopsies were obtained from women with POP (n=46) and control subjects (n=49). Immunohistochemistry for collagen type I and MMP-1 was performed on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections.

Respiratory infections in children hospitalized at the University Hospital Mostar during war and post-war period.

Our aim was to investigate the incidence of respiratory infections in children treated at the Pediatric Department of the University Hospital Mostar during war (1993 and 1994) and after the war (2003 and 2004). In order to collect data we used medical histories of children with respiratory infections. Incidence of respiratory infections in children in war period was 230/1000, while in post-war period it was 190/1000.

Increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in uterosacral ligament tissue from women with pelvic organ prolapse.

Mechanical stability of the urogenital tract depends on intact collagen fibers. Because of difficulties in quantitating collagen, some authors have investigated collagen breakdown by measuring matrix metalloproteinases expression. We biopsied 68 post-menopausal women during operation to evaluate matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression in uterosacral ligament biopsies from women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) (n = 34) and controls with normal pelvic support (n = 34).

Matrix metalloproteinases-1, -2 expression in uterosacral ligaments from women with pelvic organ prolapse.

Objective: This study investigated matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) immunohistochemical expression in uterosacral ligament biopsies from women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP), and controls with normal pelvic support.

Design: Prospective observational experimental study.

Setting: A tertiary Urogynecology Unit and Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Split, Croatia.

Epidemiology of pelvic floor disorders between urban and rural female inhabitants.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of pelvic organ prolapse in urban and rural women and to identify possible related factors. They were 1749 participants; one thousand four hundred seventeen (81%) urban women and 332 rural residents (19%). The urban and rural women were congruently regarding to age, parity, using oral contraceptives and postmenopausal status.

Cord blood cortisol level is lower in growth-restricted newborns.

Aim: To establish the difference in plasma cortisol concentrations between newborns with intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) birthweights.

Subjects And Methods: We measured plasma cortisol concentrations in the umbilical venous cord blood of 68 IUGR newborns and 71 AGA birthweight newborns. All newborns were delivered in term, vaginally, in the morning, within 8 hours and had APGAR scores greater or equal to eight.

Comparison of fetal plasma cortisol level between eutrophic and hypotrophic newborns.

We tested two groups of singletons born at term: fifty-six eutrophic newborns and 56 hypotrophic subjects. They were selected randomly from all newborns delivered by vaginal route between 8 and 14 hours. Excluded were preeclampsia, diabetes, labours longer than 12 hours and newborns with malformations.

Socio-demographic characteristics and lifestyle habits of pregnant women smokers.

The aim of this study was to describe anthropometric, clinical, socio-demographic characteristics and lifestyle habits of pregnant smokers in comparison to pregnant nonsmokers. During years 1999-2003, 1,435 pregnant smokers and 4,772 pregnant nonsmokers were interviewed after delivery with a questionnaire. They were recorded clinical, anthropometric and socio-demographic data, smoking status, labor outcome, maternal and fetal hemoglobin concentrations for each patient.

Uterine artery embolization for the treatment of uterine fibroids.

Uterine artery embolization can be regarded as a less invasive procedure for the treatment of fibroids compared with myomectomy, hysterectomy, and laparoscopic myolysis. The aim of this study was the evaluation of safety and efficacy of uterine artery embolization and of womens' opinion about this treatment. After gynecological examination sixty-nine premenopausal women underwent uterine artery embolization.

Differences in sexual functioning between patients with benign and malignant breast tumors.

The aim of this study was to compare differences in sexual behavior between patients with benign and malignant breast tumors. A total of 187 patients treated for breast tumors (benign or malignant) at the General Hospital >>Pozega<<, Croatia, filled in the questionnaire between January 2001 and May 2003. Patients were asked to fill in the questionnaire one to ten years after treatment of breast tumor, while they were on their regular control visit.

Anthropological and clinical characteristics in adolescent women with dysmenorrhea.

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of dysmenorrhea in female adolescents and the influence of anthropological characteristics and lifestyle factors on menstrual pain. Two hundred and ninety seven girls from several elementary and secondary schools were interviewed about the presence of the menstrual pain, their age, height and weight, menarcheal age, menstrual cycles quality, smoking and sexual activity. There were 164 (55%) subjects with and one hundred and thirty three (45%) without dysmenorrhea.

Sexual life after cervical carcinoma.

The aim of this study is to determine the differences in sexual life of women with cervical cancer after surgery and radiation therapy. A total of 210 patients treated for cervical cancer at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia between March 2001 and March 2003 were asked to fill in the questionnaire. Sexual life had worsened in 42.

Socio-demographic characteristics of women with endometrial carcinoma.

The aim of the paper was to describe general health, socio-economic and demographic characteristics of endometrial cancer patients in comparison to healthy women. During years 1996-2002, 100 women with endometrial carcinoma and 100 healthy women were interviewed about their health, socio-economic and demographic status and compared. The endometrial cancer patients were more often older, postmenopausal, with higher body weight, and frequent history of hypertension and diabetes than controls.

Oral contraceptives improve lung mechanics.

Objective: To determine whether oral contraceptives affect lung mechanics.

Design: Open-label study.

Setting: Academic medical center.

Pulmonary ventilatory function in premenopausal women with and without genital descensus.

A hypothesis on the existence of link between the changes in connective tissue in patients with genital descensus and impairments of their pulmonary function was made. In the sample of 40 patients, admitted to hospital for surgical correction of their genital descensus, their pulmonary ventilatory function was examined and compared with 40 matched female examinees without genital descensus. All the examinees were in premenopausis, nonsmokers and without history or clinical signs of the diseases that could affect their pulmonary function.