Effect of Amygdalin on the treatment and recurrence of endometriosis in an experimental rat study

Background: Endometriosis is an aggressive disorder and associated with infertility, pelvic pain and intra-abdominal adhesions in women of reproductive age. Women with endometriosis has the potential risk of recurrence ranging from 21.5% in two years to 50% in five years after recovery period. Therefore, there is a certain requirement for new drugs as an alternative therapy to the current ones.Aim: The aim of the present study is to compare the effects of amygdalin and leuprolide acetate on endometriosis development and recurrence in rats.Study Design: Animal experimentMethods: A total of 30 adult female rats were enrolled. Induction of endometriosis was performed by implanting endometriotic focci on the peritoneal side of the abdominal wall. Before amygdalin or leuprolide acetate treatment one of the implant was removed for histopathological analysis, and rats were randomly divided into three groups. Saline (Group 1), amygdalin (Group 2), and leuprolide acetate (Group 3) were administered for three weeks. After treatment, one of the remaining three implants was excised for histopathological evaluation, and all treatments were terminated. Estradiol was given after the estradiol induction for the recurrence of endometriosis. Rest of the implanted tissues were removed, then all rats were euthanised. The implant volumes, histopathological injury and fibrosis levels were observed.Results: The endometriotic foci volumes in Group 2 and Group 3 were significantly lower than in Group 1 (p = 0.001, p = 0.002, respectively). The histopathological injury scores and fibrosis levels were not significantly different among the groups (p > 0.05).Conclusion: The present study showed that amygdalin has an evident effect in the treatment of endometriosis.</p

Predictive value of ultrasound in prenatal diagnosis of hypospadias: Hints for accurate diagnosis

This study aims to assess the diagnostic accuracy of targeted ultrasound examination in prenatal diagnosis of hypospadias and to evaluate the predictive values of defined ultrasonographic findings of hypospadias. The cases diagnosed with hypospadias in our fetal medicine center were identified on an electronic database. The ultrasound reports, images and hospital records were reviewed retrospectively. The predictive value of prenatal ultrasound diagnosis and the predictive values of each sonographic finding were assessed according to the postnatal clinical examinations. Thirty-nine cases were diagnosed with hypospadias on ultrasound during the 6 years. Nine fetuses with missing postnatal examination records were excluded. Twentytwo of the remaining fetuses had their prenatal diagnosis of hypospadias confirmed in postnatal examinations, indicating a 73.3% positive predictive value. Normal external genitalia was detected in postnatal examinations of three fetuses. Five fetuses were diagnosed with other external genital abnormalities, including micropenis (n=2), clitoromegaly (n=2), and buried penis with bifid scrotum (n=1) in postnatal examinations. The positive predictive value of prenatal ultrasound for any external genital abnormality was 90%. Although the positive predictive value of ultrasound for genital anomalies is satisfying, it is slightly lower for the specific diagnosis of hypospadias. This reflects overlapping ultrasound findings of different external genitalia anomalies. Standardized, systematic evaluation of the internal and external genital organs, karyotyping and genetic sex determination are essential to achieve a precise prenatal diagnosis of hypospadias