Endometrial expression of vasopressin, oxytocin and their receptors in patients with primary dysmenorrhoea and healthy volunteers at ovulation

OBJECTIVE: To investigate gene expressions for neurohypophyseal and ovarian hormones as well as their receptors in the endometrium of women with primary dysmenorrhoea and healthy subjects at ovulation. STUDY DESIGN: A group of eight women with moderate to severe dysmenorrhoea and eight healthy subjects were compared in parallel between 18 and 35 years of age, regularly menstruating, non-overweight and nulliparous. The study was performed at The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Lund, Sweden. Endometrial biopsies were taken around the time of ovulation, which was determined by repeated ultrasound examinations. Receptor and gene expressions for oxytocin and vasopressin in the tissue were measured. RESULTS: The gene expression for oxytocin receptor was significantly lower in dysmenorrhoic than in healthy women, in median 1.21 and 3.44 oxytocin-receptor/actin, respectively (p=0.048). The expressions for oxytocin peptide, vasopressin V1a receptor, oestrogen receptor alpha, beta and progesterone receptor did not differ between the two groups. Expression of vasopressin peptide was not detectable. CONCLUSION: A lower oxytocin receptor gene expression at mid-cycle could be involved in the aetiology of primary dysmenorrhoea. However, the importance of a paracrine effect of oxytocin and its receptor at ovulation warrants further investigation.     

Physical injury from intimate partner violence: measurement strategies and challenges

Physical injury that occurs as a result of intimate partner violence needs to be treated to relieve pain, promote healing, and prevent infection. Detection of physical injury is an important component of the forensic examination because of its role in criminal justice proceedings. Better detection and measurement techniques are needed to quantify physical injuries and advance the science. This article addresses current practices of injury identification, challenges in injury measurement, and future directions for research.     

Foetal and neonatal ovarian cysts: a 5-year experience

Background Abdominal cystic formations in newborns are relatively common and often diagnostic suspicion arises in this regard even before birth as a result of ultrasound scans carried out during pregnancy. The aim of this study is to highlight the problems posed by the prenatal diagnosis of abdominal cysts in order to outline the most appropriate therapeutic approach in case of suspected ovarian cysts. Materials and methods Between January 2003 and January 2007, 57 women were enrolled in this study for a prenatal ultrasound (US) that revealed the presence of an echo-rare or echo-free area in the foetal abdomen. After birth all babies underwent blood tests and abdominal US scans in order to confirm or identify the nature of the cyst. If abdominal US could not show the nature of the cystic formation, magnetic resonance imaging with sedation was performed. When the radiological tests were not useful to identify the nature of the cysts and surgery was then necessary, surgical procedures were performed with laparoscopy. Results Ultrasounds were useful to identify the diameter of the cysts but not all their origins; also MRI confirmed the morphology and volume of the cysts, but could not give further details about their origin. Discussion Abdominal ultrasound and finally laparoscopy used to treat and remove the cysts were useful to monitor all simple abdominal cysts. MRI seemed not to be useful for the treatment of this condition, especially in the pediatric age when mild sedation is required.     

Pregnancy after bariatric surgery: a comprehensive review

Background Obesity continues to be a global epidemic, and strong evidence exists linking it with gestational complications such as macrosomia, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, and cesarean section. Bariatric surgery, a highly effective treatment for obesity, may prevent such complications in subsequent pregnancies. Objective This review seeks to describe the risks and benefits of post-bariatric procedure pregnancies, in comparison to both community and obese cohorts. Results A thorough review of the literature suggests that post-surgery women are not at increased risk for poor perinatal outcomes, and moreover their risks for many obesity-related gestational complications are reduced after bariatric surgery. Data regarding fertility after bariatric surgery are quite ambiguous, however, and studies exist demonstrating both positive and negative associations between weight loss procedures and fertility. Conclusions Clinicians should be aware that data collected on this subject were often gathered from post-op pregnant women provided with good prenatal care and screening for nutritional deficiencies. Although pregnancy after bariatric surgery appears to be safe, providers should take extra care to properly monitor their post-op pregnant patients for appropriate weight gain and nourishment.     

Obstetric outcomes in nulliparous women aged 35 and over with singleton pregnancies conceived by in vitro fertilization

Objective To investigate obstetric outcomes in singleton pregnancies conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF) to nulliparous women older than 35 compared to those of their younger counterparts. Methods Nulliparous women 35 years and older at delivery conceived by IVF (n = 89) were compared with nulliparous women 34 years and younger at delivery conceived by IVF (n = 48). Data included antenatal data, gestational age at delivery, maternal and neonatal complications and mode of delivery. Results The incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension in the younger group was significantly higher than that in the elderly group (13 vs. 3.4%, P = 0.043). There were no measurable differences in other obstetric outcomes such as placental abnormality, premature delivery or neonatal asphyxia between the two groups. Conclusion The current results suggest that obstetric complications in pregnancies conceived IVF are attributed to mechanisms other than those depend on advanced maternal age.     

Four synchronous female genital malignancies: the ovary,cervix, endometrium and fallopian tube

Objective To present a unique case of a 63 year-old woman with coexistent adenocarcinoma of the ovary, endometrium, cervix and fallopian tube. Materials and methods A case report from a tertiary health center. Results A woman presenting with postmenopausal bleeding and abdominal distantion was assessed by endometrial biopsy and explorative surgery. The frozen section of the mass on the right adnex revealed malign mucinous carcinoma of the ovary. As usual, optimal debulking was performed as initial surgical staging procedure of ovarian cancer. The microscopic examination of the right ovary revealed a typical mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. Furthermore, the focal endometrial irregularity at the left uterine cornus turned out to be a well differentiated endometrial carcinoma of the endometrioid type with <1/3 myometrial invasion. The pale infiltrative lesion in the cervix also turned out to be an adenocarcinoma of the endocervical type with deep stromal invasion and areas of diffuse glandular dysplasia and in-situ glandular neoplasia at the periphery. Besides, several sections from the left fallopian tube uncovered diffuse dysplasia in the lining epithelium and a focus of adenocarcinoma with papillary and cribriform pattern. Discussion When compared with patients having metastatic lesions, most synchronous female malignancies are accompanied with early stage and low-grade with a more favorable prognosis. However, there is paucity of data for the exact criterion to distinguish primary tumors from metastatic lesions. In such cases, the validity of immunohistochemical and cloning studies are not clear.     

Acute promyelocytic leukemia: an unusual cause showing prolonged disseminated intravascular coagulation after placental abruption

Background Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) caused by placental abruption usually improves rapidly after prompt delivery and adequate anti-DIC treatment. Case A 30-year-old nulliparous woman suffered from placental abruption at the 25th week of pregnancy, and emergent cesarean section was done immediately. She exhibited DIC, which continued even after termination of the pregnancy and anti-DIC treatment. She also showed neutropenia. We closely observed her, and at the 58th day postpartum, blast cells appeared in the peripheral blood and she was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Induction chemotherapy was done successfully. The close observation after delivery enabled us to make the prompt diagnosis/treatment, leading to the complete remission. Conclusion APL should be added to the list of differential diagnosis when DIC persists even after prompt delivery and appropriate anti-DIC treatment after placental abruption.     

First trimester serum inhibin A in normal pregnant women

Objectives To establish reference ranges for maternal serum inhibin A in normal first trimester pregnant women. Materials and methods This was a cross-sectional study. We measured maternal serum inhibin A in normal pregnant women gestation age between 6⁺⁰ and 14⁺⁶ weeks using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Maternal serum inhibin A was analyzed according to gestational ages (GA). Results Serum of 300 pregnancies was analyzed and the outcome demonstrated the median of maternal serum inhibin A according to gestational age. The levels of maternal serum inhibin A during the 6⁰–6⁺⁶ week of gestations are lowest when compared with other gestational age. The levels of maternal serum inhibin A during 9⁰–9⁺⁶ week of gestations are maximal. Maternal serum inhibin A then declined until 14 weeks of gestation. Conclusion Serum inhibin A can be measured during the first trimester of pregnancy by using the recent ELISA technique. Our reference ranges might be useful for further studies, such as prediction of adverse pregnancy outcome in threatened abortion.