Rationale and design for the Vaginal Erbium Laser Academy Study (VELAS): an international multicenter observational study on genitourinary syndrome of menopause and stress urinary incontinence.

The genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) are common clinical challenges for women's health and quality of life. The laser treatment and particularly the vaginal erbium laser (VEL) may provide a new non-invasive treatment for both GSM and SUI. However, the estimation of the ultimate results of different laser treatments may be altered by different issues, such as patient selection, concomitant treatments, and long-term effect of vaginal laser thermotherapy. In the present paper, we present the protocol for a large multicenter study on the evaluation of the efficacy and safety of VEL for the treatment of GSM and SUI, the Vaginal Erbium Laser Academy Study (VELAS). This study will evaluate the effects of three laser applications in 1500 postmenopausal women. Subjective and objective symptoms will be evaluated prior to the first laser treatment with follow-up visits after 4 weeks from the last laser application, and subsequently after every 3 months for 1 year. Findings from the VELAS have the potential to affect clinical care practice and health decisions for millions of women world-wide for a non-hormonal treatment for GSM and a non-invasive treatment of SUI.

Breast self examination survey carried out at a cancer prevention center serving a province.

Screening programs for early diagnosis of breast cancer and particularly, for its prevention are not feasible at present, because when the neoplastic mass becomes clinically observable it has already been quietly evoluting for many years. Besides the clinical examination, the self examination of the breast (B.S.E.) is therefore the only way to detect breast cancer at the earliest possible clinical stage. This study aimed at evaluating the average knowledge of this method among 2530 women who came to the centre for prevention and early diagnosis of tumours at the U.S.L. 61 Savigliano over the first half of 1981. We examined the relationship existing between some parameters and the B.S.E. as well as the reason why some women, though knowing about the S.E. do not perform it. We finally give some indications for a correct education to the B.S.E.

[Echographic examinations in 246 cases of voluntary interruption of pregnancy]. / Indagine ecografica in 246 casi di I.V.G.

PIP: 246 women underwent legal induced abortion between June 1978 and December 1979 at the Hospital "SS. Annunziata" in Savigliano, Italy. Echography was used prior to the operation to determine exactly the duration of pregnancy and to gather indications on the intervention and on its possible difficulties. 4% of patients were 18 years of age, and 14% were 24 years of age. 67% came from other provinces, 53% were housewives, 77% were married, and 41% had elementary school education. Only 15.8% had been referred by private physicians. Reasons for requesting abortion were family reasons (56.5%), social reasons (16.6%) and economic reasons (11.3%); only 1.2% of requests were for fear of fetal malformations. 25.8% of abortions were done at the 10th week of gestation; 24.8% of women were nulliparous and, of these, 11.4% had had a previous abortion; 57.7% were multiparous, and, of these, 28.8% had had a previous abortion. 91% of operations were done through vacuum aspiration and 7.5% by aspiration and curettage. Echographic exploration prior to the operation revealed 2 phases of rapid growth of the fetus, up to the 8th week and from the 10th to the 13th week.^ieng