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The article focuses on a study of laparoscopy as a feasible approach for the correction of pelvic floor dysfunction among older people. It mentions the existence of new evidence showing that the effectiveness of laparoscopy is similar to laparotomy if performed with the same surgical technique. It notes that laparoscopy and laparotomy have the same limits and complications in terms of addressing urinary stress incontinence. Also noted is the critical role of laparoscopy in apical defects.

Introduction and Hypothesis: Studies have observed a significant heterogeneity in efficacy data for single-incision minislings (SIMS) as surgical treatment for female urinary incontinence (UI). Our study aim was to test the hypothesis that different vaginal kits for SIMS have different long-term outcomes., Methods: One hundred and twenty women with stress (SUI) or mixed (MUI) UI were enrolled in a multicenter randomized clinical trial (registration number NCT00751088) and treated with three different SIMS (Ajust, MiniArc, or TVT Secur System). Duration of follow-up was at least 24 months from surgery. The primary outcome was the subjective cure rate at 24 months from surgery; secondary outcomes were rates of total failure and reoperations for UI., Results: At study end, no difference was detected between groups in terms of total subjective cure rate [21 (52.5%) vs. 26 (65.0%) vs. 21 (52.5%), in Ajust, MiniArc, and TVT Secur System group, respectively; P = 0.412] or in terms of total failure rate [24 (60.0%) vs. 22 (55.0 %) vs. 27 (67.5 %), in Ajust, MiniArc, and TVT Secur System group, respectively; P = 0.432]. The proportion of patients who received a second surgery for UI was also not significantly different between groups [13 (32.5%) vs. 10 (25.0%) vs. 13 (32.5%), in Ajust, MiniArc, and TVT Secur System, respectively; P = 0.831]., Conclusion: The long-term efficacy of SIMS does not differ between the vaginal kits examined.

Objective: Single-incision mini-slings (SIMS) are new minimally invasive devices used for female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). To date, several SIMS are available, but few and uncontrolled comparative data have assessed their safety and feasibility. The aim of the present clinical study was to compare three different SIMS in an ambulatory setting., Study Design: One hundred and twenty patients with SUI were randomized to receive three SIMS: Ajust, MiniArc, and TVT Secur System. Surgical data were compared., Results: Significantly (P<0.05) lower surgical difficulty and higher patient satisfaction were detected in the MiniArc group when compared to the Ajust and TVT Secur System groups. A significantly (P<0.05) higher feasibility under local anesthesia and in ambulatory setting was also detected for the MiniArc group. The overall complication rate was significantly (P<0.05) lower in the MiniArc group than in the TVT Secur System group., Conclusions: MiniArc is simpler to insert under local anesthesia and in an ambulatory setting. It is safer than the TVT Secur System, and is related to higher patient satisfaction., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

► Isolated port-site metastasis is a rare event after laparoscopy in the surgical staging of endometrial cancer. ► More aggressive strategies in case of potentially increased risk for port-site metastasis are needed.

Study Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Gynecare Morcellex tissue morcellator (Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, NJ) in laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy and myomectomy., Design: Randomized controlled trial (Evidence I)., Setting: University department of obstetrics and gynecology., Patients: Seventy-four patients with symptomatic uterine myomas scheduled for laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy or myomectomy., Interventions: Laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy and myomectomy followed by tissue morcellation using the Gynecare Morcellex (experimental group) or the Rotocut G1 morcellator (Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG, Tuttlingen, Germany) (control group)., Measurements and Main Results: Patient characteristics and surgical data were noted for both groups. No difference was detected between groups in any parameters assessed, whereas a significant difference (p <.05) in handling score was detected in the experimental group compared with the control group., Conclusion: The Gynecare Morcellex is an effective instrument with excellent safety and handling., (Copyright 2010 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate the effects of tibolone co-administration with GnRH agonist treatment in terms of cognition, mood, and quality of life., Design: Randomized, controlled, single-blind, clinical trial., Setting: Department of gynecology and obstetrics at a university in Italy., Patient(s): One hundred ten premenopausal women with symptomatic uterine leiomyomas., Intervention(s): Six months of treatment with leuprolide acetate depot (11.25 mg IM, every 3 mo) associated with either tibolone (2.5 mg/d orally; group A) or placebo (1 tablet per d; group B)., Main Outcome Measure(s): At baseline and after 6 months of treatment, uterine and leiomyoma sizes, leiomyoma-related symptoms, climacteric-like symptoms, cognition, mood, and quality of life., Result(s): At study entry, no difference was detected between groups in any parameters assessed. After treatment, the leiomyoma-related symptoms were significantly reduced in both groups, without any statistically significant differences between them. The Kupperman Index was statistically significantly higher in group B in comparison with baseline and group A. The cognition scores were statistically significantly different in comparison with baseline in group B, whereas no change was observed in group A. After treatment, mood and quality of life were statistically significantly improved in both groups, even though the improvement was significantly higher in group A than in group B., Conclusion(s): Tibolone administration reverses the deleterious effect on cognition that is caused by leuprolide acetate depot and improves mood and quality of life in patients who receive GnRH agonist for symptomatic uterine leiomyomas.

The Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease which causes injury to lacrimal and salivar glands and is characterized by a potential systemic involvement. The present review will treat mainly of SS extraglandular expressions, focusing on scientific literature articles regarding SS implications in gynecology and obstetrics.

Metformin is an insulin sensitizer currently used for treating type-2 diabetes mellitus and recently administered for inducing ovulatory menstrual cycles in oligo-amenorrhoeic patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The aim of the present review is to describe the efficacy of metformin as an ovulation inducer on the basis of the most important evidence-based medicine supported data, including meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials. Specifically, we reviewed the uses of metformin as first- and second-step treatment for PCOS related anovulatory infertility and as co-treatment in infertile PCOS patients who receive gonadotrophins. To date, there is evidence that metformin is effective for restoring normal menstrual cycles in anovulatory PCOS patients, and that it is more effective and cheaper than laparoscopic ovarian drilling as the second therapeutic step in PCOS patients previously defined as resistant to clomiphene citrate. Co-administration of metformin in PCOS patients treated with gonadotrophin improves the mono-ovulation rate and can prevent ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in patients treated with gonadotrophins for IVF cycles.

The study objective was to assess the feasibility and the efficacy of bilateral uterine artery embolization (BUAE) for the treatment of cervical pregnancy. The design was a series of 3 cases of viable cervical pregnancy diagnosed by transvaginal ultrasonography and treated by means of BUAE and subsequent uterine curettage. Three women with viable cervical pregnancy underwent BUAE and subsequent uterine curettage in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, High Risk Pregnancy Center, University "Federico II" of Naples. Measurements included surgical outcomes and preservation of fertility. The treatment was effective in all cases. Two patients resumed normal menstruation about 1 month after the procedure, whereas 1 patient underwent a hysterectomy 2 weeks after embolization because of acute ischemic degeneration of a concomitant myoma. The conservative management of cervical pregnancy with angiographic BUAE is a feasible and effective option, even if subsequent hysterectomy may be required. Counseling is necessary.

Many EMR systems are focused on documentation but are not designed for discrete clinical data capture for outcomes and quality measurement. This requires new clinical workflow and methods to capture patient specific data as part of usual care, without negative impact on productivity. We describe a process to harness tools within a commercially available EMR, together with other electronic data sources to improve the accuracy and efficiency and scalability of a surgical quality reporting program.

Study Objective: To evaluate the relationship between intraabdominal visceral fat (IVF) and early conversion from laparoscopy to laparotomy in obese patients., Design: Prospective study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2)., Setting: Department of obstetrics and gynecology, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro., Patients: One hundred fifty-one obese patients with endometrial cancer and laparoscopic surgery., Interventions: Laparoscopic treatment for early-stage endometrial cancer., Measurement and Main Results: In all patients, demographic, anthropometric (including body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist circumference), and IVF assessments (using ultrasonography [IVF-USG, cm] and computed tomography [IVF-CT, cm(2)]), were evaluated. In 122 patients (122/151, 80.8%), the laparoscopies were successfully completed (group A), whereas 29 patients (29/151, 19.2%) had a laparotomic conversion. Specifically, in 19 (19/29, 65.5%) and in 10 patients (10/29, 34.5%) the conversion was early (group B1) and late (group B2), respectively. A significant (p <.05) difference in surgical stage IC and in postoperative complications rate was detected between group A and groups B1 and B2, without difference between these 2 last groups. IVF-USG and IVF-CT were significantly (p <.01) higher in group B1 in comparison with groups A and B2, without difference between these 2 last groups. A strong and significant (p <.001) association between IVF-USG and IVF-CT was detected in all groups by Spearman bivariate correlation (r = 0.78, 0.918, and 0.978 for group A, B1, and B2, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed the IVF-CT as the main predictor for early laparotomic conversion (OR 2.184; 95% CI 1.227-3.886)., Conclusions: Intraabdominal visceral fat is a predictor for early laparotomic conversion in obese patients with endometrial cancer. Further studies are necessary to assess the efficacy of the IVF evaluation for reducing the laparotomic conversion risk in obese women undergoing laparoscopic surgery for gynecologic malignancy.

In patients affected of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), obesity has an high percent of incidence and represents an important factor increasing its clinic evolution, both in metabolic than in reproductive terms. For these patients non pharmacologic treatments aimed at the reduction of body weight, such as diets and physical exercise, represent the first line therapeutic approach. The aim of this review is to analyze the changes in life style and to highlight their efficacy in reducing the negative effects of PCOS on metabolism and reproductivity. Specifically different types of diet have been compared, in health or PCOS women, such as low glycemic index diets, moderate carbohydrate, high protein and low fat diets, very low carbohydrate and high fat diets and, finally, moderate carbohydrate and high monounsaturated fat diets. In the global view of the approach to the disease, different regimens of physical activity and the usefulness of a behavior therapy were also evaluated. Results obtained in health women suggest that diets higher in proteins and lower in carbohydrates are to be preferred to the conventional diet lower in fats and higher in carbohydrates. Anyway other studies are necessary to justify a similar assertion in women with PCOS. At the same way, the optimum regimen of physical exercise for PCOS women is still to be demonstrated.

Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is a rare and fatal disease of unknown etiology. Inflammatory oxidant mechanisms and deficiency in nitric oxide (NO) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension. In order to investigate abnormalities in oxidants and antioxidants in PPH, we studied intrapulmonary NO levels, biochemical reaction products of NO, and antioxidants (glutathione [GSH], glutathione peroxidase [GPx], and superoxide dismutase [SOD]) in patients with PPH (n = 8) and healthy controls (n = 8). Intrapulmonary gases and fluids were sampled at bronchoscopy. Pulmonary hypertension was determined by right-heart catheterization. NO and biochemical reaction products of NO in the lung were decreased in PPH patients in comparison with healthy controls (NO [ppb] in airway gases: control, 8 +/- 1; PPH, 2.8 +/- 0. 9; p = 0.016; and NO products [microM] in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid [BALF]: control, 3.3 +/- 1.05; PPH, 0.69 +/- 0.21; p = 0.03). However, GSH in the lungs of PPH patients was higher than in those of controls (GSH [microM] in BALF: 0.55 +/- 0.04; PPH, 0.9 +/- 0.1; p = 0.015). SOD and GPx activities were similar in the two groups (p >/= 0.50). Biochemical reaction products of NO were inversely correlated with pulmonary artery pressures (R = -0.713; p = 0.047) and with years since diagnosis of PPH (R = -0.776; p = 0.023). NO reaction products are formed through interactions between oxidants and NO, with the end products of reaction dependent upon the relative levels of the two types of molecules. The findings of the study therefore show that NO and oxidant reactions in the lung are related to the increased pulmonary artery pressures in PPH.