Association between Physical Activity and Menstrual Cycle Disorders in Young Athletes.

Our study aims to evaluate clinical predictors of menstrual cycle disorders in female athletes who compete in running disciplines. This is a prospective observational study. Women were recruited between January and May 2022. Fifty-three patients were enrolled and completed a questionnaire about menstrual cycle, physical activity, and food habit characteristics. Of the women in our population, 39.6% had menstrual irregularities and reported a significantly higher number of kilometers run per week (67 vs. 35, p:0.02). The number of kilometers run per week was associated with menstrual irregularities (for 10 km, OR 1.35; IC95% 1.05-1.73; p: 0.02) after adjusting for BMI, age, level of sport and caloric intake. The variable of "km run per week" appeared as a diagnostic indicator of irregular menstrual cycle with statistical significance (AUC ROC curve 0.71, IC95% 0.54-0.86, p-value=0.01) and the cut-off of 65 km run per week is a good indicator of the presence of irregular menstrual cycle (sensitivity (SE) and specificity (SP) of 55% and 81.48%). Menstrual cycle disorders are very frequent in female athletes, and the variable of km run per week may play a role in screening endurance athletes at high risk for these disorders.

High levels of physical activity in female adolescents with anorexia nervosa: medical and psychopathological correlates.

PURPOSE: While overexercise is commonly described in patients who experience anorexia nervosa (AN), it represents a condition still underestimated, especially in the paediatric population. METHOD: The present study aims at assessing the possible associations between levels of physical activity (PA) and clinical features, endocrinological data and psychopathological traits in a sample of 244 female adolescents hospitalised for AN subdivided into two groups according to PA levels (high PA vs. no/low PA). The two groups were compared through multivariate analyses, while multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine whether physical activity predict specific outcomes. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of last Body Mass Index (BMI) before illness, BMI at admission and disease duration, while a difference emerged in delta BMI(rapidity of weight loss), significantly higher in high-PA group (p = 0.021). Significant differences were observed in Free triiodothyronine- (p < 0.001), Free thyroxine (p = 0.046), Follicle-stimulating hormone (p = 0.019), Luteinising hormone (p = 0.002) levels, with values remarkably lower in high-PA group. Concerning psychopathological scales, the high-PA group showed worst Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) scores (p = 0.035). Regression analyses revealed that higher PA predicts higher delta BMI (p = 0.021), presence of amenorrhea (p = 0.003), lower heart rate (p = 0.012), lower thyroid (Free triiodothyronine p < 0.001, Free thyroxine p = 0.029) and gynaecological hormones' levels (Follicle-stimulating hormone p = 0.023, Luteinising hormone p = 0.003, 17-Beta estradiol p = 0.041). Concerning psychiatric measures, HPA predicts worst scores at CGAS (p = 0.019), and at scales for evaluation of alexithymia (p = 0.028) and depression (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that high levels of physical activity in acute AN associate with worst clinical conditions at admission, especially in terms of endocrinological and medical features. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Modified McCall culdoplasty versus Shull suspension in pelvic prolapse primary repair: a retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Uterosacral ligament suspension at the time of primary prolapse repair represents a well-established surgical option. Our aim was to compare the effectiveness, complications rate, and functional results of modified McCall culdoplasty and Shull suspension. METHODS: Patients who underwent vaginal hysterectomy and cuff suspension for pelvic organ prolapse were retrospectively analyzed. McCall culdoplasty (group A) or Shull suspension (group B) were performed according to surgeon choice based on age and sexual activity. Perioperative data, objective, and subjective cure rate were noted. RESULTS: A total of 339 patients (215 in group A and 124 in group B) completed follow-up. Operating time and blood loss were slightly higher in group B. The complications rate was similar in the two groups. Anatomical outcomes in terms of recurrence and reoperation rate did not show any statistically significant differences. POP-Q items analysis revealed only a different total vaginal length between groups (8 mm longer in group B). Functional outcomes were similar in the two groups as was patient satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Both uterosacral ligament suspension procedures were shown to be safe and effective. There were no clinically significant differences with regard to surgical data, complications, anatomical, functional, and subjective outcomes between modified McCall culdoplasty and Shull suspension.

Three-dimensional ultrasound assessment and middle term efficacy of a single-incision sling.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional outcome of a single-incision sling procedure for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and to correlate the cure rate with a pelvic floor ultrasound examination METHODS: Fifty-seven patients treated with a single-incision sling procedure between January 2009 and September 2010 were included in the study. Functional outcome was evaluated as objective cure rate assessed with stress test and subjective cure rate determined by the International Consultation on Incontinence-Short Form and Patient Global Impression of Improvement scores. Women underwent perineal ultrasound examination by a combined 2D translabial and 3D transvaginal approach to assess bladder neck and tape mobility, tape position along the urethral axis, and tape anchorage. According to the position of self-fixating tips, we divided patients into group A (both tips crossed the obturator membrane), group B (only one tip crossed the obturator membrane) and group C (none of the tips crossed the obturator membrane). Objective cure rate and type of anchorage were compared with all ultrasound parameters. RESULTS: At an average follow-up of 13 months objective cure rate was 87.7 % with a significant subjective improvement. A significant difference in tape mobility was noted between group A and group C. Bladder neck mobility significantly increased in failures. Sling was significantly closer to mid-urethra in cured than in failures. CONCLUSIONS: In 77 % of patients MA didn't reach the obturator membrane on both sides. This feature conditioned significantly bladder neck mobility but not the efficacy of the procedure. Tape position seems to be the most important factor for success.

Exaggerated mini-puberty in a preterm girl: a case report and review of literature.

OBJECTIVES: Mini-puberty is the physiological and transient activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis occurring during the first months after birth. In preterm infants, the hormonal surge is more pronounced and longer-lasting than in at-term-peers. To date, only few cases of vaginal bleeding in the setting of an exaggerated mini-puberty have been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: At the corrected age of 3 months, an ex-very-preterm girl presented with breast enlargement and recurrent vaginal bleeding. A remarkable increase in gonadotropins and estradiol levels was detected, while pelvic ultrasound highlighted a large right ovarian cyst. As brain and pituitary MRI showed negative findings, an exaggerated mini-puberty was suspected and no additional investigations were undertaken. The subsequent progressive regression of clinical, biochemical and sonographic findings confirmed the diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Although exaggerated mini-puberty of infancy in ex-preterm girls is a rare event, it is important to raise knowledge of this para-physiological condition in order to avoid unnecessary investigations and treatment.

Reproductive prognosis in women with endometriosis after conservative surgery: a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the reproductive prognosis in women subjected to conservative surgical treatment for endometriosis seeking pregnancy during the first three years after surgery. We tried to identify operative findings which negative influences prognosis. METHODS: A total of 140 patients were retrospectively analyzed, who had a diagnosis of endometriosis, based on surgical and histological criteria and without other male or female infertility factors who underwent surgery between 01/2002 and 01/2012. For each patient, anatomic and surgical data, stage according to the revised classification of American Fertility Society (AFS), months of pregnancy research and the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) after surgery were collected. A total of 109 patients had been diagnosed preoperatively as being infertile (group 1), 31 cases tried to conceive only after surgery (group 2). The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of San Gerardo Hospital, Monza. RESULTS: The pregnancy rate among infertile women (group 1) was 53% (58/109, 48 occurring naturally and 10 with ART), and 71% (22/31, 3 with ART) in patients of group 2. The overall cumulative probability of pregnancy at 3 years was 60% for group 1 and 76% for group 2. The prognosis was independent by the stage, presence of monolateral or bilateral endometriomas, tubal adhesions or superficial lesions while it is inversely correlated to Douglas' pouch obliteration (DPO) (P=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Surgery improves the reproductive prognosis in infertile women with endometriosis. In the studied population DPO obliteration had a high prevalence and it influenced negatively the pregnancy outcome.