Efficacy of myo-inositol in the treatment of cutaneous disorders in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine cause of hirsutism, acne and pattern alopecia, often characterised by ovulation disorders (usually manifested as oligo- or amenorrhea). In addition, 30-40% of women with PCOS have impaired glucose tolerance, and a defect in the insulin signalling pathway seems to be implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. For this reason, insulin-lowering medications represent novel approach in women with PCOS.

[Clinical picture and therapy of endometriosis].

This paper defines endometriosis disease and summarizes its clinical and pathological features. Definitive diagnosis of endometriosis requires direct visualization of the disease. Laparoscopy is the most commonly employed method to inspect the peritoneal cavity directly.

[Echographic follow-up after laparoscopic enucleation of endometrioma].

The authors report their experience of the ultrasonic follow-up of endometriomas after laparoscopic enucleation. Fifty women with sixty-six endometriomas were treated: the average diameter of the endometriomas is 4.2 cm.

Preeclampsia: correlation between changes in symptomatology and changes in diet.

This study analyzes 13 cases of pregnant women affected by varying degrees of preeclampsia, and correlates the patients' data (height, weight, preeclampsia symptoms according to intensity and time of onset) to the amount of mean daily intake of nutrients (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, starch, total calories, Na). The amount of nutrients was obtained processing with a special computer software the patients' weekly dietary diaries. The analysis of the data shows the correlation between the onset of preeclampsia symptomatology and the excess of certain nutrients: excess in calories and/or proteins, and/or lipids, and/or simple sugars, and/or sodium.

[Endometrial ablation with the resectoscope. The authors' experience].

The authors report their experience in endometrial ablation, a new hysteroscopic surgery technique, which is now proposed as an alternative to hysterectomy in cases of persistent uterine bleeding like meno-metrorrhagia not supported by myoma or endometrial atypia. The clinical indications and the resectoscopic technique are treated. From 1-1-1992 to 31-10-1993 14 women were treated with partial endometrial ablation and the result was good (shorter menstruation) in 80% and amenorrhea took place in 20%.

[Endometrial ablation. A review of the technics and results].

The authors make a careful examination of a very new surgical hysteroscopic technique, endometrial ablation, which is proposed as an alternative to hysterectomy in cases of persistent uterine bleeding not supported by endometrial atypia or adenocarcinoma. In addition to examining the indications for this type of surgery the authors also assess the state of the art of two techniques currently used: the laser technique and the method based on electroresection. The risks, benefits, collateral effects and results are evaluated for each method.

[Prenatal screening for Down's syndrome: a simplified method].

Prenatal screening for Down's syndrome (DS) can be achieved by combining maternal age risks and maternal serum additional parameters (AFP, HCG, uE3) by computer assisted statistical analysis. Nevertheless this measure of risk is far from broad and practical application in Italy, due to cultural and organization difficulties. So we suggest a different technical approach, the age specific risk being multiplied by the HCG/AFP likelihood ratio.

[Echography in the diagnosis of postoperative complication in gynecology].

The authors report their experience regarding the use of ultrasonic instruments to control the postoperative iter of gynecological, oncological or urological surgery. These types of surgery may be complicated by urethral lesions, retroperitoneal or subfascial sero-hematic stasis, lymphocele, urethrohydronephrosis or vescical dysfunctions with urinary stasis which, if identified at an early stage, can be resolved by surgery. Out of 88 cases of gynecological surgery with a high risk of complications which were followed using ultrasound during the postoperative period, complications occurred in 11 cases (12.

[Predictive factors of infantile cerebral lesions during pregnancy and labor].

The risks connected with children's cerebral lesions are examined by means of two different surveys related to a retrospective study over a period of about 10 years. One of these surveys is clinical and is based in the obstetric case history of children carrying psychomotor handicaps. The other survey is instrumental and concerns 100 cases of pathologic cardiotocography during labour associated with fetal suffering.

[Uterine sarcoma. Clinical and pathological study of 25 cases].

The study reports on the follow-up in 25 cases of uterine sarcoma from 1979 to 1988. 56% of them are leiomyosarcoma, 28% mixed mullerian tumors and 16% sarcoma of the endometrial stroma. The women affected are mostly 40 to 70 years old; 80% of them are pluriparae, in menopause for 64% of them at the time of the diagnosis.

[Controlled study on the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome with betamethasone in pregnancy and ACTH and cortisol levels in the premature newborn infant].

The influence of maternal corticosteroid administration was studied on the ACTH and cortisol concentrations in neonatal blood of 24 premature infants whose mothers received betamethasone for prevention of RDS, compared with 11 untreated subjects. Cord blood was taken at birth and from venous sample in 5th day. All samples were analyzed for ACTH and Cortisol by radioimmunoassay.