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Despite the significant scientific evolution in primary and secondary cervical cancer prevention in the battle started by George Papanicolaou in the previous century, global cervical cancer mortality rates remain disappointing. The widespread implementation of HPV-related molecular markers has paved the way to tremendous developments in cervical cancer screening, with the transition from cytological approach to the more accurate and cost-effective HPV testing modalities. However, the academic audience and different health systems have not yet adopted a universal approach in screening strategies, and even artificial intelligence modalities have been utilized from the multidisciplinary scientific armamentarium. Combination algorithms, scoring systems as well as artificial intelligent models have been so far proposed for cervical screening and management. The impact of sexual lifestyle inherently possesses a key role in the prevalence of HPV-related biomarkers. This study aimed to investigate any possible influence of sexual behavior and demographic characteristics in the expression of HPV-related biomarkers in a colposcopy population from October 2016 to June 2017, and corroborated the determining role of age at fist intercourse; the older the age, the lower the probability for DNA positivity. Multivariate analysis illustrated additionally that a number of sexual partners exceeding 4.2 was crucial, with women with ≤5 partners being approximately four times less likely to harbor a positive HPV DNA test (p < 0.0001). Similarly, a reported partner change during the last year before HPV DNA assessment contributed to 2.5 times higher odds for DNA positivity (p = 0.0006). From this perspective, the further development and validation of scoring systems quantifying lifestyle factors that could reflect cervical precancer risk seems paramount. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

To compare the effects of the administration of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in subfertile patients with two or more unsuccessful IVF/ICSI cycles. In this six-center two-arm retrospective cohort study, the study population (230 women) underwent a GnRH-antagonist protocol and was classified into two groups, according to the couse of LMWH or not. Groups were compared regarding the clinical and IVF/ICSI cycle characteristics and reproductive outcomes, whereas clinical pregnancy and miscarriage constituted the primary endpoints. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the potential predictors of clinical pregnancy, miscarriage and live birth rates using the Enter method. Baseline characteristics were comparable in the two groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the two study groups with regard neither to clinical pregnancy and miscarriage rates (33/133 vs. 20/97, p =.456 and 15/133 vs. 9/97, p =.624, respectively), nor to the secondary outcomes preset for this study (all p values >.05). Logistic regression revealed that age of the woman and ICSI and dose of gonadotrophins used were predictors of clinical pregnancy and live birth, respectively. In conclusion, there is no evidence to support the standard addition of LMWH in patients with two or more unsuccessful IVF/ICSI cycles. © 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection alone is not sufficient to explain the development of cervical cancer. Genetic variants have been linked to the development of precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association of 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the Fas cell surface death receptor (FAS), trinucleotide repeat containing 6C (TNRC6C), transmembrane channel like 8 (TMC8), DNA meiotic recombinase 1 (DMC1), deoxyuridine triphosphatase (DUT), sulfatase 1 (SULF1), 2'-5-oligoadenylate synthetase 3 (OAS3), general transcription factor IIH subunit 4 (GTF2H4) and interferon gamma (IFNG) genes with susceptibility to precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. In total, 608 female participants, consisting of 199 patients with persistent low-grade precancerous lesions(CIN1), 100 with high-grade precancerous lesions (CIN2/3), 17 patients with cervical cancer and 292 healthy controls, were enrolled in this study. SNPs were tested for associations with each of the above-mentioned cervical group lesions or when considering an overall patient group. A significant difference for rs4737999 was observed between the controls and the overall patient group considering the recessive mode of inheritance [odds ratio (OR), 0.48; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.24- 0.96; P=0.033]. This effect was even stronger on the risk of CIN1 lesions. Carriers of the rs4737999 AA genotype were almost 3-fold less likely of having low grade lesions compared to the other genotypes. On the whole, this study provides evidence of an influence of the SULF1 gene rs4737999 SNP in the development of precancerous lesions/cervical cancer. © 2018, Spandidos Publications. All rights reserved.

To evaluate the effect of endometrial injury on clinical outcomes in subfertile women with repeated implantation failures (RIF) undergoing assisted reproduction. In this prospective nonrandomized controlled trial, 103 subfertile women with RIF were included. Fifty-one underwent endometrial injury through hysteroscopy in the early follicular phase of the previous cycle and 52 underwent the standard protocol without any intervention. Live birth and miscarriage were the primary outcomes. Clinical and in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle characteristics, were also compared between groups. Both groups were comparable in terms of baseline and cycle characteristics. Live birth rates were significantly higher in the study, compared with the control group (18/51 vs. 8/52, odds ratio (OR) = 0.25; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.10–0.64; p = 0.020), although miscarriage rates were similar (7/51 vs. 10/52, OR= 0.25; 95%CI= 0.12–0.66; p = 0.452). The rest of the outcomes parameters were comparable between groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed that endometrial injury and duration of subfertility were independent predictors of live birth after control of other variables (OR = 2.818; 95%CI = 1.044–7.605; p = 0.041 and OR = 0.674; 95%CI = 0.461–0.985, p = 0.042, respectively). Endometrial injury induced through office hysteroscopy in the preceding cycle in subfertile women with RIF improves live birth rates. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Aim. The purpose of this study was to examine various hormonal, biochemical and environmental factors (i.e., smoking and alcohol intake) and to investigate their possible correlation to the development of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The main objective was to evaluate the associations between hormonal profile and the antimüllerian hormone (AMH) levels in PCOS patients and their relation to environmental factors. Patients and Methods. In two gynecological clinics, 38 women with PCOS (defined according to the Rotterdam criteria) were enrolled and observed in relation to AMH, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), Δ4-androstendione (Δ4-A), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and glucose plasma concentrations. Obesity, smoking and alcohol exposure were also studied. Results. AMH, T, Δ4-Α, DHEA-S, LH and FSH were increased in 76.3%, 50%, 31.8%, 23.7%, 21% and 18.4% of the patients, respectively. The LH/FSH ratio and glucose concentrations increased abnormally in 18.4% and 15.8% of the patients, respectively. AMH and T levels were both increased in 47.4% of the patients whereas both AMH and LH levels increased in 21% of the patients. Smoking, alcohol intake, obesity and glucose concentrations were not associated with AMH concentrations. On the contrary, high levels of T and LH were linked to higher levels of AMH. FSH concentrations were not increased in these patients. Conclusion. AMH is an important hormonal parameter for the diagnosis of PCOS. Larger clinical controlled studies are necessary in an effort to further investigate the inclusion of AMH measurement in the diagnostic criteria of PCOS. © 2017, Acta Endocrinologica Foundation. All rights reserved.

Introduction: Peritoneal washing cytology and imprint cytology of pelvic lymph nodes samples were used to evaluate the rapid cytologic detection of peritoneal and retroperitoneal spread of endometrial cancer. Materials and Methods: We undertook a study on 194 endometrial cancer patients who underwent primary treatment in the Gynecologic Clinic, Democritus University of Thrace. All patients were subjected to peritoneal washing (PW) cytology and imprint cytology performed on lymph node sampling. The cytologic specimens were stained by May-Grünwald Giemsa (MGG) and Haematoxylin eosin (HE) techniques. Cell-blocks prepared from peritoneal washings (PWs) and the lymph node samples were sent for histologic examination. The cytologic findings were correlated to histologic results. Results: Rapid intraoperative cytology provides a useful diagnostic technique for the assessment of endometrial cancer spread. HE and MGG stain presented different values of sensitivity and specificity in the detection of peritoneal and retroperitoneal spread of endometrial cancer. Conclusion: Cytologic assessment of intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal spread of endometrial cancer is a rapid, intraoperative procedure, which provides the surgeon with useful information regarding the stage of the disease and the subsequent therapeutic approach. Key words: Endometrial cancer, Imprint cytology, Lymph node dissection, Peritoneal washing cytology

Objective. To determine the connection between maternal first trimester serum leptin levels and newborn weight. Methods.The study included 37 preeclamptic women and 53 normotensive women who considered the control group. Maternal blood samples were withdrawn at 13 weeks of gestation for the measurement of leptin concentrations. Birth weights were transformed to z-scores according to maternal and obstetrical features, based on customised centiles. Non-parametric tests, student's t-test, Pearson's correlation, Spearman's correlation and linear regression analysis were performed in our analysis. Results.Pre-pregnancy body mass index and first trimester maternal plasma leptin levels were significantly higher among women with preeclampsia (p=0.015 and p