Endometrial CRH and implantation: from bench to bedside.

Endometrial corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) has been described as a mediator of decidualisation and as a contributor of maternal-fetal immunotolerance. Deregulation of the CRH expression pattern has been associated with unfavourable reproductive outcomes as well as chronic endometrium-derived inflammatory disorders, such as endometriosis and adenomyosis. The current review summarises the evidence produced regarding the role of CRH in endometrial physiology and pathophysiology and highlights recent clinical data regarding the role of CRH in improving clinical pregnancy rates in women with repeated implantation failures following in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer.

Removal of a large bizarre uterine leiomyoma by operative hysteroscopy. Case report and review of the literature.

Background: Atypical leiomyomas are relatively uncommon in the general practice of gynaecology. We present a case of a large uterine bizarre leiomyoma removed by operative hysteroscopy and review of the literature.

Case: The patient, a 49-year-old, gravida 3, para 3, perimenopausal Greek woman presented to our Department because of dysmenorrhea and abnormal vaginal bleeding.

Cord blood leptin and insulin-like growth factor levels are independent predictors of fetal growth.

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system is the dominant endocrine regulator of fetal growth, whereas insulin has a permissive role. Although a role for leptin in fetal growth has been suggested recently, the mechanism by which leptin may be related to fetal growth is not known; but leptin may interact with the IGF system in utero as it does in the extrauterine life. In the context of a hospital-based case control study, we collected anthropometric and demographic data and measured serum leptin, IGF-I, IGF-II, insulin, cortisol, and IGF binding protein 3 concentrations in 142 cord blood samples from full-term deliveries.