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It has been reported that 10% to 15% of young normogonadotrophic women show suboptimal response to standard gonadotropin-releasing hormone-a long protocol. These patients require higher doses of exogenous follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This phenomenon could be associated with genetic characteristics. In this study, FSH receptor polymorphism was retrospectively evaluated in 42 normoresponder young women undergoing an in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycle; patients were stratified according to recombinant human FSH (r-hFSH) consumption. We selected 17 normoresponder young patients who required a cumulative dose of recombinant FSH (rFSH) >2500 UI (group A). A control group was randomly selected among patients who required a cumulative dose of rFSH <2500 UI (group B). Follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSH-R) 307Ala and 680Ser variants were analyzed in all our patients. Our results show that the mean number of rFSH vials (36.3 ± 7.5 vs 28.6 ± 4.5, P = .0001) and days of stimulation (12.7 ± 2.4 vs 10.8 ± 2.8, P = .03) were significantly lower in group B, whereas the number of oocytes retrieved (7.1 ± 1.5 vs 9.6 ± 2.4; P = .0005) and the average number of embryos transferred (2.1 ± 0.7 vs 2.7 ± 0.4; P = .001) were significantly lower in group A. Estradiol serum levels on the human chorionic gonadotrophin day were significantly lower in group A (997.8 ± 384.9 pg/mL vs 1749.1 ± 644.4; P = .0001). The incidence of the Ser/Ser genotype was higher in patients with higher r-hFSH consumption (group A; P = .02). Based on our results, we hypothesize an association between the FSH-R polymorphisms and a "hyporesponse" to exogenous FSH., (© The Author(s) 2016.)

Background: Gonadotropins are protein hormones which are central to the complex endocrine system that regulates normal growth, sexual development, and reproductive function. There is still a lively debate on which type of gonadotropin medication should be used, either human menopausal gonadotropin or recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone. The objective of the study was to perform a systematic review of the recent literature to compare recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone to human menopausal gonadotropin with the aim to assess any differences in terms of efficacy and to provide a cost evaluation based on findings of this systematic review., Methods: The review was conducted selecting prospective, randomized, controlled trials comparing the two gonadotropin medications from a literature search of several databases. The outcome measure used to evaluate efficacy was the number of oocytes retrieved per cycle. In addition, a cost evaluation was performed based on retrieved efficacy data., Results: The number of oocytes retrieved appeared to be higher for human menopausal gonadotropin in only 2 studies while 10 out of 13 studies showed a higher mean number of oocytes retrieved per cycle for recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone. The results of the cost evaluation provided a similar cost per oocyte for both hormones., Conclusions: Recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone treatment resulted in a higher oocytes yield per cycle than human menopausal gonadotropin at similar cost per oocyte.

Pregnancy is becoming a relatively common event in patients with pituitary tumors (PT), due to the increasing availability of medical treatments, which control pituitary diseases associated with the development of PT. However, the presence of PT and its treatment may be a disturbing factor for pregnancy, and pregnancy significantly influences the course and the management of PT. This review summarizes the knowledge about the management of PT during pregnancy and the occurrence of pregnancy in patients with pre-existent PT, focusing on secreting PT characterized by hormonal excess and on clinically non-functioning PT often associated to hormone deficiency, which configure the hypopituitaric syndrome.

Background: Diaphragmatic endometriosis is a rare condition that may cause invalidating epigastric or thoracic pain and catamenial pneumothorax. During the past decades, laparoscopy has been proposed as an optimal tool for diagnosis and surgical eradication of the disease., Methods: We present a retrospective series of consecutive patients affected by diaphragmatic endometriosis, treated by laparoscopy at our institution, during a period of 7 years., Results: Among 3,008 patients with pelvic endometriosis, 46 cases with intraoperative diagnosis of diaphragmatic endometriosis were identified. Operative findings showed multiple diaphragmatic lesions in 32 (69.5 %) patients and single lesions in 14 (30.4 %). Diaphragmatic implants were distributed on the right side in 40 (86.9 %) patients; in 5 patients (10.8 %) they were bilateral and 1 patient had a single lesion on the left hemidiaphragm. Most of the symptomatic patients were treated by complete excision of the nodules, whereas only three patients referring right upper-quadrant abdominal pain and right shoulder catamenial pain had superficial diaphragmatic endometriosis and were treated by diathermocoagulation., Conclusion: Diaphragmatic endometriosis should be included in the concept of complete eradication of endometriosis. This kind of surgery has been shown to be feasible and cost-effective; however, it should be managed in a referral center, by an expert laparoscopic gynecologist with knowledge of oncological surgical techniques, with the support of a general surgeon and a trained anesthesiologist.

Background: In January 2010, the SICE (Italian Society of Endoscopic Surgery), under the auspices of the EAES, decided to revisit the clinical recommendations for the role of laparoscopy in abdominal emergencies in adults, with the primary intent being to update the 2006 EAES indications and supplement the existing guidelines on specific diseases., Methods: Other Italian surgical societies were invited into the Consensus to form a panel of 12 expert surgeons. In order to get a multidisciplinary panel, other stakeholders involved in abdominal emergencies were invited along with a patient's association. In November 2010, the panel met in Rome to discuss each chapter according to the Delphi method, producing key statements with a grade of recommendations followed by commentary to explain the rationale and the level of evidence behind the statements. Thereafter, the statements were presented to the Annual Congress of the EAES in June 2011., Results: A thorough literature review was necessary to assess whether the recommendations issued in 2006 are still current. In many cases new studies allowed us to better clarify some issues (such as for diverticulitis, small bowel obstruction, pancreatitis, hernias, trauma), to confirm the key role of laparoscopy (such as for cholecystitis, gynecological disorders, nonspecific abdominal pain, appendicitis), but occasionally previous strong recommendations have to be challenged after review of recent research (such as for perforated peptic ulcer)., Conclusions: Every surgeon has to develop his or her own approach, taking into account the clinical situation, her/his proficiency (and the experience of the team) with the various techniques, and the specific organizational setting in which she/he is working. This guideline has been developed bearing in mind that every surgeon could use the data reported to support her/his judgment.

Background: Granulosa-cells are able to produce and store leptin, suggesting that this hormone is locally involved in the regulation of follicular growth. In this study, the role of follicular fluid (FF) leptin concentration in predicting oocyte fertilization and embryo quality was evaluated in 35 normogonadotrophic women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) for assisted reproductive techniques., Materials and Methods: Leptin concentration was measured in 47 consecutively collected FF in which a mature oocyte had been found during the ovum pick-up. Embryos deriving from fertilized oocytes were submitted to quality scoring systems., Results: Mean leptin concentration was significantly higher in FF whose oocytes showed 2 pronuclei (no. 25) when compared with those with no evidence of fertilization (no. 22) at the 16-18 h check (26.0+/-6.1 vs 15.3+/-10.6 ng/ml, respectively, p<0.01). Follicular mean diameters were similar in the two groups (21.4+/-3.4 and 21.0+/-5.1 mm, respectively). Logistic regression analysis identified FF leptin levels as the best predictive parameter for oocyte fertilization (p<0.001). When receiving operating characteristics curve was employed, a FF leptin concentration of 20.25 ng/ml was the most reliable cut-off in predicting fertilization of oocytes. FF with leptin concentrations higher than this value (no. 27) had an oocyte fertilization rate of 85.7%. In contrast, FF levels < or =20.25 ng/ml (no. 20) were associated with a rate of 16.7% (p<0.05). No correlation emerged between FF leptin and the score attributed to 15 valuable embryos at the zygote stage (r=-0.01) and at 48 h after insemination (r=0.1)., Conclusions: FF leptin levels are a better predictor of oocyte fertilization success rates than follicular diameter. These results underline the relevance of FF variables in developing methods for oocyte selection.

An adult Caucasian female developed a previously unreported association of pelvic endometriosis (PE) with the triad of alopecia universalis (AU), autoimmune thyroiditis (AT) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Molecular human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-tissue typing of this subject showed the presence of the DR(2) 15 and DR(3) 17 alleles, which are associated to an increased risk of MS and AT, respectively. Clinical onset of AT followed withdrawal of corticosteroid treatment for AU, whereas MS become clinically evident after withdrawal from long-term estroprogestin therapy for PE. This clinical case is presented to discuss the autoimmune origin of PE, its possible association with multiple autoimmune disorders as well as the effect of other factors, such as administration and/ or discontinuation of specific hormonal regimens, on genetic autoimmunity-prone background.

Purpose: To test the effects of type of embryo transfer catheter, transfer difficulty, and observations after the transfer procedure on pregnancy and implantation rates in an IVF programme., Methods: Patients were prepared for IVF using standard protocols. Embryo transfer was performed using either Edwards-Wallace or TDT catheter. The difficulty of transfer was graded by a clinician and biologist. Blood observed inside the catheter after the transfer procedure was scored as endometrial damage. Pregnancy and implantation rates were scored., Results: Type of embryo transfer catheter and the observation of blood did not significantly affect pregnancy and implantation rates when transfer was performed by a single operator., Conclusions: In the hands of experienced, skilled operators, neither choice of transfer catheter and difficulty of transfer nor observations of blood on the transfer catheter caused any significant reduction in outcome to the patient.