Organochlorine pesticides exposure & preterm birth

Commento su invito ad uno studio su esposizione fetale a composti organoclorurat

Endometriosis: 10 keys points for MRI

Endometriosis is a chronic disease and a clinical problem in women of fertile age, with a high impact on quality of life, work productivity and health care management. Two imaging modalities are employed in the diagnosis and evaluation of extent of disease: ultrasound examination with endovaginal approach and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI, thanks to its high contrast and resolution characteristics, offers a high level of accuracy in the study of endometriosis and adenomyosis. We illustrate here 10 key MRI points for the detection and diagnosis of endometriosis

Rupture of Ovarian Pregnancy in a Woman with Low Beta-hCG Levels

Background. Ovarian pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy. It is often difficult to distinguish from tubal pregnancy, and diagnosis and management are frequently a challenge. Case. A 33-year-old nulligravida woman presented with light vaginal bleeding and bilateral lower quadrants abdominal pain. Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) level (592 mUI/mL) and clinical and ultrasound (US) findings were suspicious for tubal pregnancy. On the third day, despite beta-hCG decrease (364 mUI/mL), she complained of severe pain in the lower abdomen, and physical examination revealed abdominal rebound tenderness. US showed a large amount of fluid in the abdominal cavity. Because of the unstable clinical condition, emergency laparoscopy and resection of left ovarian ectopic pregnancy were performed. Histology confirmed ovarian gestation. Conclusion. This case shows that ectopic pregnancy rupture may occur despite low levels of beta-hCG. Hemoperitoneum is not contraindication to laparoscopy

Efficacy of long-term gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue therapy to prevent recurrent catamenial penumothorax: a case report.

[No abstract available

Esposizione a inquinamenti organoclorurati ed endometriosi:minireview

Endometriosis is a gynecological disease, which involves the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity, commonly in the pelvic region. The etiology of the disease is unclear, but multiple factors may contribute to its pathogenesis. Environmental organochlorinated pollutants, particularly dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), are thought to play a role in the development of this disease; however, the results of clinical trials are discordant, and it is not clear how the effect of exposure to these compounds is linked to endometriosis. Their effects on cytokines, immune system, hormones and growth factors are thought to increase the risk of endometriosi

Frequently misdiagnosed extrapelvic endometriosis lesions: case reports and review of the literature

Extrapelvic endometriosis is a rare condition defined as the presence of endometriotic stroma and glands outside the pelvis and elsewhere in the body. The cervix, vagina, vulva, intestinal tract, urinary tract, diaphragm, abdominal wall, inguinal canal, thoracic cage and lungs, extremities and even the central and peripheral nervous system can be involved. Because extrapelvic endometriosis is located in unusual sites, it is often confused with other pathologic conditions. This can lead to a difficult and challenging diagnosis and management. In the presence of recurrent, cyclical and catamenial symptoms, extragenital endometriotic lesions should be suspected. The aim of our paper is to report 9 cases of rare locations of extrapelvic endometriosis and to provide a literature review. © 2014 Wichtig Publishing

Sonohysterosalpingography: Comparison of foam and saline solution

Purpose. To compare sonohysterosalpingography (sono-HSG) with foam instillation (HyFoSy) versus saline solution (HyCoSy) in the evaluation of tubal patency. Methods. We prospectively enrolled 37 infertile women, scheduled for laparoscopy. The women were randomized into two groups: HyFoSy (group I) and HyCoSy (group II). The patients of both groups underwent laparoscopy with dye test. We assessed the diagnostic performance (sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy) of HyFoSy and HyCoSy, compared with laparoscopy and dye test, in the assessment of tubal patency. Results. Sono-HSG findings in tubal patency assessment obtained in the HyFoSy group were concordant with laparoscopic results in 94.4% of cases, with a sensitivity of 87.5% and a specificity of 100%, whereas in the HyCoSy group, concordance occurred in only 57.8% of examinations, with a sensitivity of 50% and a specificity of 66.6%. Conclusions. HyFoSy allows a more accurate diagnosis of tubal patency compared with HyCoSy

Esposizione a inquinanti organoclorurati ed endometriosi: minireview

L’endometriosi è una patologia ginecologica caratterizzata dalla presenza di tessuto endometriale al di fuori della cavità uterina, più frequentemente nella pelvi. L’eziopatogenesi di questa malattia non è ancora stata completamente chiarita. L’endometriosi è probabilmente una patologia multifattoriale. Gli inquinanti ambientali organoclorurati persistenti (POPs), in particolare i policlorobifenili (PCBs), sembrano avere un ruolo nello sviluppo di questa patologia, anche se i risultati dei principali studi clinici sono spesso discordanti. Inoltre, non è chiaro il meccanismo con il quale queste sostanze possano influenzare la comparsa e lo sviluppo dell’endometriosi. È possibile che i POPs facilitino l’impianto e la progressione della malattia interferendo con l’omeostasi endocrina e/o attraverso il loro effetto sul sistema immunitario. Lo scopo di questa breve review è di riportare i dati dei principali studi presenti in letteratura, che hanno valutato se esiste una correlazione tra endometriosi ed esposizione a POPs