Retraction Note: Randomized, double blind placebo-controlled trial: effects of Myo-inositol on ovarian function and metabolic factors in women with PCOS.

The article "Randomized, double blind placebo-controlled trial: effects of Myo-inositol on ovarian function and metabolic factors in women with PCOS", by S. Gerli, E. Papaleo, A.

Randomized, double blind placebo-controlled trial: effects of myo-inositol on ovarian function and metabolic factors in women with PCOS.

Oligomenorrhea and polycystic ovaries in women are one of the most important causes of the high incidence of ovulation failure. This is linked, perhaps, to insulin resistance and related metabolic features. A small number of reports show that myo-inositol improves ovarian function, but in these trials the quality of evidence supporting ovulation is suboptimal.

Retinal astrocytic hamartoma with associated macular edema: report of spontaneous resolution of macular edema as a result of increasing hamartoma calcification.

The purpose of this article is to report a case of retinal astrocytic hamartoma with an associated macular edema and the spontaneous resolution of the latter due to an increase in hamartoma calcification over a seven-year follow-up period. Clinical examination, red-free and colour fundus photographs, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography were performed during a seven-year follow-up. We conclude that retinal astrocytic hamartomas may be associated with cystoid macular edema.

Incidence of surgical site infections in general surgery in Italy.

Background: Epidemiological study to determine surgical site infection (SSI) rates in surgical patients in Italy using the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance system (NNIS), to monitor current surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis, and to identify possible modifiable risk factors for SSI.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-two general surgeries participated in the study. Main criteria for site inclusion were: > 20 operations per week and amoxycillin/clavulanate among prophylactic options.

Vascular endothelial growth factor, p53, Rb, Bcl-2 expression and response to chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) increases microvascular permeability and stimulates endothelial cell growth. p53 Overexpression has been associated with resistance to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients (pts) with NSCLC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive role of VEGF for chemotherapy response, its relationship with p53, Rb, Bcl-2 and hemoglobin levels and its impact on overall survival in pts with advanced NSCLC.

Effects of inositol on ovarian function and metabolic factors in women with PCOS: a randomized double blind placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Women with oligomenorrhea and polycystic ovaries show a high incidence of ovulation failure perhaps linked to insulin resistance and related metabolic features. A small number of reports shows that inositol improves ovarian function. Futhermore, in these trials the quality of evidence supporting ovulation is suboptimal, and few studies have been placebo-controlled.

Capillary rarefaction and abnormal cardiovascular reactivity in hypertension.

Objective: To determine the effects of capillary rarefaction on cardiovascular reactivity and microcirculatory functioning in essential hypertension.

Design: Hypertension is associated with abnormal cardiovascular reactivity and increased vasoconstriction. Capillary rarefaction amplifies these abnormalities, which modify microcirculatory hemodynamics.

Evaluation of the prognostic role of vascular endothelial growth factor and microvessel density in stages I and II breast cancer patients.

In this study, we retrospectively evaluated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and microvessel density (MVD) in 228 and 213 specimens, respectively, from stages I and II breast cancer patients (pts) enrolled in a randomized phase III adjuvant chemotherapy trial comparing epirubicin to CMF, while tamoxifen was given to all postmenopausal pts. The expression of VEGF and MVD was assessed on tissue sections formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded by immunohistochemical staining using anti-VEGF antibody of human origin and anti-CD34 monoclonal antibody. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed using chi squared test, log-rank test and Cox's regression model.

Blood rheology in men with essential hypertension and capillary rarefaction.

The pathophysiological significance of hyperviscosity and capillary rarefaction in untreated essential hypertension is unknown. Fifty untreated hypertensive men with capillary rarefaction (intravital capillaroscopy) and 20 age- and sex-matched normotensive controls underwent full haemorheological profiling (blood viscosity at high and low shear, haematocrit, platelet and leukocyte counts, fibrinogen and total protein concentrations, P-selectin levels, erythrocyte and leukocyte filterability rates and erythrocyte deformability and aggregation indexes). Subjects with skin capillary density below the group median had younger age, higher diastolic pressure, higher blood viscosity at low shear, higher P-selectin levels, higher erythrocyte and leukocyte filterability rates, and higher erythrocyte aggregation indexes (all P < 0.

Value of lymph node assessment in ovarian cancer: Status of the art at the end of the second millennium.

Available data on the incidence and the clinical value of lymph node assessment in ovarian cancer are reported. In early ovarian cancer, positive nodes are found in 4-25% of patients. Serous adenocarcinoma and poorly differentiated tumors are characterized by the highest incidence of node metastases.

Low dose of ethinyl estradiol can reverse the antiestrogenic effects of clomiphene citrate on endometrium.

Fifty healthy, voluntary patients aged between 20 and 30 years with regular menstruation and plasmatic progesterone level >10 ng/ml at the midluteal phase have been enrolled in this study. They were randomly treated with clomiphene citrate (CC; group A) or CC + ethinyl estradiol (0.05 mg group B, or 0.

Computerised tomography findings as a risk factor in carotid endarterectomy: early and late results.

Objectives: To evaluate whether preoperative CT evidence of brain infarction is associated with an increased risk of early and late stroke and death in patients undergoing CEA.

Design: Retrospective clinical study.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated 844 CT scanning records from 893 patients undergoing CEA from 1986-1994: 43% (367) CT positive for cerebral infarction and 57% (477) negative.