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The article discusses a study which aims to describe the grayscale and color of the Doppler ultrasound findings in women with ovarian hyperthecosis. The ovaries of patients were examined with grayscale ultrasound while six patients were examined using color Doppler, and found no areas of hypervasculariztion. The study found that grayscale and color Doppler are useful in the identifying ovarian hyperthecosis.

Abstract: Premature ovarian failure (POF) is defined as the cessation of ovarian function under the age of 40 years. It is characterized by primary or secondary amenorrhea for at least four months, sex steroid deficiency and elevated serum gonadotropin concentrations. The diagnosis is confirmed by the detection of menopausal FSH levels on at least two occasions a few weeks apart in a woman before the age of 40. It occurs in 1/10,000 in women below the age of 20, 1/1,000 below 30 and 1% in women before the age of 40. Tthe classic etiologies are Turner syndrome, pelvic surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Although new genetic etiologies have been found in the past 10 years, the cause of POF is unknown in more than 75% of cases. Hormone replacement therapy should be administered in order to avoid vascular diseases and osteoporosis. For infertility, the most successful treatment remains assisted conception with donated oocytes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate follicular development and ovulation comparing the low-dose step-up and the step-down protocols, in women with clomiphene citrate (CC)-resistant polycystic ovaries.Methods: Eighty-three women were randomized, and treated with recombinant (r) FSH (Puregon) using either the step-up (n=44) or step-down (n=39) protocol. They were followed up for three cycles unless pregnancy occurred.Results: Monofollicular development occurred in 68.2% of the 85 cycles in the step-up group, as compared with 32% of the 72 cycles in the step-down group (P<0.0001). Hyperstimulation was statistically less frequent using the step-up procedure (4.7 versus 36%, P<0.0001). Both protocols used the same number of FSH units per cycle (951+/-586 versus 967+/-458 in step-up and step-down respectively, P=not significant). However, the duration of ovarian stimulation was statistically different (15.2+/-7.0 days in step-up versus 9.7+/-3.1 in step-down, P<0.001). Ovulation was observed in 70.3% of the cycles using the step-up procedure as compared with 51.3% using the step-down procedure (P<0.01). The cumulative rate of clinical gestations during the study did not differ between the two groups (38.6% in the step-up versus 30.8% in the step-down procedure).Conclusions: The step-up protocol using rFSH (Puregon), is more efficient in obtaining a monofollicular development and ovulation than the step-down protocol, in women with CC-resistant polycystic ovaries. Although the duration of stimulation is longer, the rate of ovarian hyperstimulation is much lower using the step-up protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed ductal–pancreatic polypeptide-cell carcinoma of the pancreas Aims: Mixed ductal-endocrine carcinomas of the pancreas are rare tumours with 10 cases reported in the English literature. We report the first case with a polypeptide-cell component. Methods and results : The tumour was fortuitouslydiscovered in a 72-year-old woman during the exploration of an endometrial adenocarcinoma. It measured 100 mm and was located in the tail of the pancreas. On microscopic examination two intermingled endocrine and exocrine components were present. The endocrine component consisted of trabeculae and solid nests composed of cells immunoreactive for chromogranin A, synaptophysin and pancreatic polypeptide, but negative for p53 and Bcl-2 proteins. The exocrine component was composed of tubules lined by atypical cylindrical cells immunoreactive for CK19, CEA, p53 and Bcl-2. The stroma of the endocrine component contained amyloid deposits. Conclusion: Mixed ductal–endocrine carcinomas of the pancreas are often described in middle-aged patients. The tumours are usually large and located in the head of the pancreas. An endocrine syndrome is rare and the prognosis is often unfavourable. We report the first case of mixed endocrine–exocrine carcinoma of the pancreas with a pancreatic polypeptide-cell component. The histogenesis of mixed carcinoma of the pancreas is still uncertain but the over-expression of p53 and Bcl-2 could play a major role in the neoplastic progression of the ductal component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the effect of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone administration in women during controlled hyperstimulation. Factors triggering the ovulatory signal of follicular wall; Detection of hypothalamic amenorrhea in women.

Analyzes the sex ratio variation in small island populations of the endangered bird, the Seychelles magpie robin or Copsychus sechellarum in the Seychelles. Causes of female mortality; Changes in total population size juvenile recruitment and sex ratios; Changes in mortality patterns.

The roles of oestradiol, inhibin A and inhibin B in the luteal-follicular transition were assessed by means of specific assays. Six premenopausal women were studied during a control and then a cycle treated with percutaneous oestradiol 0.1 mg/day from day 10 after the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge until day 4 of the following cycle. Inhibin A concentrations decreased similarly in control and treated cycles from day -5 to day 2, then increased in control cycle to 23.3 +/- 3.4 pg/ml on day 10 (mean +/- SEM). They remained low until day 5 in treated cycles and were lower than controls on day 10 (P < 0.01). Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations increased on day 1 in controls and on day 5 in treated cycles when oestradiol concentration fell abruptly. Inhibin B concentrations remained low until day 1 in controls and day 4 in treated cycles. In both, inhibin B concentrations increased 1 day after FSH, peaking at 160 pg/ml. FSH concentrations began to plateau when inhibin B concentrations were >100 pg/ml and oestradiol concentrations below 200 pmol/l. These data suggest that inhibin A is not responsible for FSH suppression in the luteal phase and that the negative control of FSH shifts from oestradiol in the luteal phase to inhibin B in the mid-follicular phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The roles of oestradiol, inhibin A and inhibin B in the luteal–follicular transition were assessed by means of specific assays. Six premenopausal women were studied during a control and then a cycle treated with percutaneous oestradiol 0.1 mg/day from day 10 after the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge until day 4 of the following cycle. Inhibin A concentrations decreased similarly in control and treated cycles from day –5 to day 2, then increased in control cycle to 23.3 ± 3.4 pg/ml on day 10 (mean ± SEM). They remained low until day 5 in treated cycles and were lower than controls on day 10 (P < 0.01). Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations increased on day 1 in controls and on day 5 in treated cycles when oestradiol concentration fell abruptly. Inhibin B concentrations remained low until day 1 in controls and day 4 in treated cycles. In both, inhibin B concentrations increased 1 day after FSH, peaking at 160 pg/ml. FSH concentrations began to plateau when inhibin B concentrations were >100 pg/ml and oestradiol concentrations below 200 pmol/l. These data suggest that inhibin A is not responsible for FSH suppression in the luteal phase and that the negative control of FSH shifts from oestradiol in the luteal phase to inhibin B in the mid-follicular phase. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Discusses abstracts of studies related to gynecology and obstetrics. Step-up and step-down protocol in polycystic ovary syndrome; Familial associations in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.