Effect of the Fractional CO2 Laser on the Quality of Life, General Health, and Genitourinary Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women With Vaginal Atrophy: A Prospective Cohort

Introduction: After menopause women experience vaginal atrophy related to hormonal changes and estrogen deficiency. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the effect of the fractional CO2 laser on the quality of life, vaginal atrophy symptoms, and urine incontinency in menopause women.Methods: This prospective study was conducted among 140 women from 2017 to 2018 in Yas hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. They encountered the fractional microablative CO2 laser system three times at four-week intervals. The short form of the Health Questionnaire (SF-12) and the Female Sexual Functional Index (FSFI) questionnaire were utilized to assess the participants’ quality of life. Also, the standard measuring tools including the vaginal health index (VHI) and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ) Form were used to evaluate the vaginal atrophy symptoms.Results: The quality of life improved significantly in somatic, social function, and mental health. In the sexual context, arousal and satisfaction status improved significantly. Also, the frequency of urinary incontinence, enuresis, urgency, and the leak improved significantly (P < 0.05). Among the scale variables for urinary function, it was seen that the urgency impact had no improvement. All vaginal indices improved (P < 0.05).Conclusion: The fractional CO2 laser can be effective in treating vaginal atrophy and urinary symptoms. Besides, it improved the quality of life and the sexual function o

Vitamin D deficiency and mode of delivery: a study in Tehran Women General Hospital

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a widespread problem especially in the developing countries like Iran. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency differs from moderate to severe among Iranian women, particularly among pregnant women, and it can cause some problems such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), premature labor and primary cesarean section. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the mode of delivery is related to serum vitamin D levels or not; and if there is any difference in the percentage of cesarean section between vitamin D-deficient and vitamin D-insufficient women. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out between the April 2012 and April 2014 in a woman university hospital, Tehran, Iran. One hundred and eighty-six women aged between 17 and 52 years old (Mean age 28.46 and SD5.97) were surveyed in this study. The study group comprised of (N=186) consecutive cases attending Tehran Women General Hospital Clinic for normal vaginal delivery or cesarean section. Women who underwent cesarean section due to previous cesarean delivery were not recruited for the study. The participants were divided into two groups: women with vaginal delivery and women with cesarean section. Serum vitamin D concentration (25(OH) Vitamin D) was measured for each patient. Concentration of serum vitamin D was compared between these 2 groups. Results: One hundred and twenty-eight (68.8%) women had cesarean section and 58 (32.2%) had vaginal delivery. Median and inter-quartile range (IQR) of serum 25(OH) D were 13.64 and 12.47 ng/ml; respectively, among women with cesarean section, compared to 11.68 and 12.59 ng/ml in those with vaginal delivery. No statistically significant difference was detected in serum vitamin D between these 2 groups (P=0.72). In addition, no statistically significant difference was detected between women with vitamin D deficiency and women who were vitamin D insufficient (P=0.8). Conclusion: In this study, there was no association between serum vitamin D levels and delivery mode

A case report of prenatally detected achondrogenesis type II with an occipital cephalocele

Achondrogenesis is a very rare lethal skeletal disorder. Here we describe a case of prenatally diagnosed achondrogenesis type II in a 28 year-old woman at (17+4) wk. She had history of 5 first trimester missed abortions. The couple is consanguineous. Ultrasonography showed extreme micromelia, short neck and trunk, large head and prominent abdomen. Delayed ossification in sacral bones was detected and ossification of pubic rami was poor. There were associated large cystic hygroma, anasarca and also high occipital cephalocele. Posterior fossa was normal. Mild hypothelorism, depressed nasal bridge, low set ear and mild retrognathia were identified too. Amniocentesis result was compatible with a normal female fetus. Post mortem whole body radiography confirmed the diagnosis. To our knowledge, this is the second case report with association of cephalocele and achondrogenesis type II

Ovarian response during IVF cycle following laparascopic cystectomy of ovarian endometrioma

Background: Endometrioma of ovary is one of the common diseases during reproductive age and the effect of laparoscopic cystectomy of endometrioma on infertility is still matter of debate. We designed this case control study to evaluate the ovarian response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation during IVF (In vitro fertilization) cycle following laparoscopic unilateral cystectomy of endometrioma. Methods: In a case control study, we enrolled 30 women with history of unilateral laparoscopic cystectomy of ovarian endometrioma in stripping method who underwent IVF cycle in women Hospital, 2009-2012. The numbers of follicles in response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation during IVF cycle in the ovary with history of  unilateral laparoscopic cystectomy of endometrioma were compared with those from the contralateral ovary. Results: The mean age (±SD) of patients was 32.3 (±3.4). The mean (±SD) diameter of excised ovarian endometrioma was 42.4 (±10.4) mm. Interval since ovarian surgery to induction ovulation was 2.7 (±2.6) years. Mean number of follicles in the ovary with history of unilateral laparoscopic cystectomy of endometrioma was 2.5 (±1.2) with the range of 1 to 5 and in the control ovary 3.9 (±1.4) with the range of 1 to 6. There was significant difference in the number of follicles in the ovary with laparascopic cystectomy of endometrioma compared with opposite one (P<0.001).Conclusion: Laparoscopic cystectomy for unilateral endometrioma is associated with a reduced ovarian response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation during IVF cycle. We did not find any statistically significant difference in reduced ovarian response with regard to patients age, body mass index, size and location of the cyst, and time duration since ovarian cystectomy

Thyroid Dysfunction and Autoantibodies Association with Hypertensive Disorders during Pregnancy

Background. Thyroid dysfunction and autoimmunity are relatively common in reproductive age and have been associated with adverse health outcomes for both mother and child, including hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. Objective. To survey the relation between thyroid dysfunction and autoimmunity and incidence and severity of pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders. Method. In this case control study 48 hypertensive patients in 4 subgroups (gestational hypertension, mild preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia, eclampsia) and 50 normotensive ones were studied. The samples were nulliparous and matched based on age and gestational age and none of them had previous history of hypertensive or thyroid disorders and other underlying systemic diseases or took medication that might affect thyroid function. Their venous blood samples were collected using electrochemiluminescence and ELISA method and thyroid hormones and TSH and autoantibodies were measured. Results. Hypertensive patients had significant lower T3 concentration compared with normotensive ones with mean T3 values 152.5±48.93 ng/dL, 175.36±58.07 ng/dL respectively. Anti-TPO concentration is higher in control group 6.07±9.02 IU/mL compared with 2.27±2.94 IU/mL in cases. Conclusion. The severity of preeclampsia and eclampsia was not associated with thyroid function tests. The only significant value was low T3 level among pregnancy, induced hypertensive patients

The effect of pioglitazone on weight, lipid profile and liver enzymes in type 2 diabetic patients

Background: Pioglitazone is one of the antidiabetic agents used in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The effect of pioglitazone on blood glucose, lipid profile, liver enzymes and weight has been shown with conflicting results. In this study we aim to evaluate the effect of pioglitazone on the weight, lipid profile and liver enzymes in patients with DM. Methods: In this single-arm clinical trial, 110 poorly controlled diabetic type 2 patients (63.6% female with mean age of 54.26 ± 8.96 years) who were on maximal dosage of metformin and glibenclamide were enrolled. Patients were treated with pioglitazone for 3 months and laboratory. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), haemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), alkaline phosphatase (ALK-P), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and weight changes were measured before and at the end of the study. Results: The levels of FBS ( p  < 0.001), HbA1c ( p  < 0.001), triglyceride ( p  = 0.001), ALT ( p  = 0.005) and ALK-P ( p  = 0.001) were significantly decreased, but weight was significantly increased ( p  < 0.001) after the intervention. There were no significant difference in cholesterol, LDL and HDL values before and after study. Conclusion: Although pioglitazone causes a significant decrease in FBS, HbA1C and triglyceride levels, it is associated with weight gain, which would limit its utility. IRCT registration code: IRCT201209276712N