[Evaluation of affective temperaments in the postpartum depressive symptomatology]. / Evaluation des tempéraments affectifs dans la symptomatologie dépressive du post-partum.

INTRODUCTION: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a frequent psychiatric condition, but little is known about its potential bipolar nature and the implication of affective temperaments. The goal of this study is to estimate the prevalence of PPD and assess the affective temperamental profile of those affected. METHOD: The study was conducted in the department of gynecology and obstetrics of the CHU of Sfax, Tunisia. The selected population included all 213 consecutive admissions (mean age=29 years). Postpartum depressive symptomatology (SPPD) was assessed during the first week after delivery by using the Postnatal Edinburgh Scale Depression (EPDS) in its Arab version. The Arabic version of the Temperaments Auto-questionnaire of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego (TEMPS-A) was simultaneously filled out by subjects. The subjects were divided into two subgroups, depressed (D+) versus not depressed (D-), for comparative analyses. For affective temperaments, dimensional (mean scores) and categorical (quartiles) approaches were used. RESULTS: Forty-one women (19,2%) had a score higher than 9 on the EPDS (group D+). Lower educational level, lower social and family support, dysfunctional marital relationship, problems with accepting the pregnancy and prior psychiatric disorders were significantly more present in the D+ group. The majority of the affective temperaments, excepting hyperthymic, were correlated between them. The EPDS scores were correlated with all temperamental scores, except for hyperthymic. Higher scores on the depressive, irritable, anxious and cyclothymic temperaments were observed in the group D+. Women belonging to the 3rd and 4th quartiles of the depressive, cyclothymic and irritable temperaments and those belonging to the 4th quartile of the anxious temperament were significantly more depressed. Cyclothymic and depressive temperaments seemed to influence the pregnancy acceptance. Other interactions were observed between SPPD, temperamental profiles and quality of marital relation, and family support. The opposite seems true for the hyperthymic temperament, which could be protective against SPPD through better psychosocial conditions. Multivariate regression analysis showed that cyclothymic and anxious temperaments are significant risk factors independently from psychosocial factors, such as problems with accepting the pregnancy, which seemed to be the most important risk factor. CONCLUSION: PPD represents a frequent disorder, which needs to be correctly screened and recognized especially with its temperamental attributes, a mixture of anxious, irritable, depressive and cyclothymic traits. This complex unstable temperament should be considered as a predisposing factor, which interacts also with other common risk factors.

Metformin effects on clomifene-induced ovulation in the polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common, complex endocrine disorder for women on reproductive age. A high incidence of ovulation failure is observed in PCO women and perhaps linked to insulin resistance related to metabolic features In the last few years some studies assessed hyperinsulinimea and insulin resistance attenuation effects, by insulin sensitizing agents such as metformin, in PCOS women suggesting potential scope for these drugs in CC ovulation induction quality improvement. AIM: Our prospective study aim is to compare the effectiveness of clomifene citrate plus metformin and clomifene citrate plus placebo in women with newly diagnosed polycystic ovary syndrome. METHODS: From February 24 to September 29 (2007), PCOS was explored on women attending the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology sterility consultation unit (CHU Hedi Chaker-Sfax) according to the Rotterdam 2003 diagnostic criteria. PCOS patients were randomized to receive, in addition to clomifene citrate treatment, placebo or metformin 850 mg two times a day all ovulatory cycle for three trials maximum. Ovulation detection was done by the E2 serum measurements and ovarian transvaginal ultrasonography' evolution controlling on 7th, 11th and 13th day of the cycle. RESULTS: Within 7 months, 32 PCOS women were recruited in the study and equally allocated to the two groups. Baseline characteristics were similar in metformin group and placebo one. Ovulation was characterized by the presence of at least one mature follicle (> 16 mm), a circulating estradiol concentration in the edge of 150-250 pg and accessory an endometrial depth > 8 mm. The ovulation rate in the metformin group was 62.5% compared with 37.5% in the placebo group, a non-statistically significant (small study population) but important difference (1.66 times). Analyses show a higher mature follicle number and estradiol concentration in metformin group than in the placebo one. Metformin effect was, in our study, his only insulinosensitizer property consequence far away a 'making thinner' or Hyperandrogenism reducing ones. CONCLUSION: The ovulatory response to clomifene can be increased in polycystic ovary syndrome women by decreasing insulin secretion with metformin.

[Study of the prevalence of postpartum depression among 213 Tunisian parturients]. / Etude de la prévalence de la dépression du post-partum auprès de 213 parturientes tunisiennes.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to estimate the prevalence of the depression in postpartum in a population of Tunisian parturients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective study, in two stages: first week then between sixth and tenth week of the postpartum. The study was done at CHU Hédi Chaker in Sfax, Tunisia. For tracking postpartum depression, we used the Arab version of Edinburgh Postnatal Scale Depression (EPDS). An epidemiologic questionnaire was used to collect the sociodemographic and clinical data. RESULTS: In T(1), 213 women were examined. In T(2), 136 were reexamined (63, 8% of the initial population). In the first stage, the prevalence of the intense postpartum blues, according to EPDS, was 19,2%. In the second stage, the prevalence of the postpartum depression was 13, 2%. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The postpartum depressions are frequent among Tunisian parturients. The difference in the rates of prevalence between the two stages of evaluation was noted in other studies. This leads us to think that the relatively high rate in the first stage would be contaminated by an intense postpartum blues. However, a high rate persists at the sixth to tenth week, indicating the importance of tracking postpartum depression. This became possible by using EPDS, available in an Arab version and which should be generalized for the new mothers. This detection should be done early in postpartum or else in the later postnatal consultations. This allows an adequate treatment for the mothers, for the mother-newborn relationship and, later, for the psychological equilibrium of the child.

[Effect of conservative treatment in the management of low-degree urogenital prolapse]. / Apport du traitement conservateur dans la prise en charge du prolapsus urogénital de bas grade. Le devenir après deux ans.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to determine the respective effects of conservative treatment (pelvic muscle exercises plus advice on healthy living) and the absence of treatment in the management of urogenital prolapse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-seven women (mean+/-S.D. age: 53.42+/-11.01 years) consulting for genital prolapse (grade I or II cystocele) were randomized into two groups: a conservative treatment group (CTG) and a nontreated group (NTG). The patients' outcomes were rated according to several parameters; a clinical examination, the "Measurement of Urinary Handicap" (MUH) scale, urodynamic tests, the Ditrovie quality of life scale and patient satisfaction on a visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: The immediate post-treatment results showed that pelvic heaviness persisted in only five patients (18.51%) in the CTG compared with fourteen (70%) in the NTG (p<0.001). Furthermore, a significant improvement in the MUH scale score was noted in the CTG compared with the NTG. The Ditrovie score also improved. The maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP) ranged from 54.4+/-13.23 to 57.81+/-12.8 cm H(2)O in the CTG versus 54.05+/-12.18 to 52.95+/-12.18 cm H(2)O in the NTG. Uroflowmetry revealed a significant improvement in the maximum flow rate. These benefits were maintained two years after cessation of the conservative treatment in 20 of the CTG patients. CONCLUSION: Conservative treatment can be effective in the treatment of low-degree urogenital prolapse and enables the improvement of clinical symptoms and urodynamic parameters. The benefits were maintained two years after treatment cessation.

[Mammary hydatid cyst diagnosed by fine needle aspiration]. / Kyste hydatique du sein diagnostiqué par cytoponction.

INTRODUCTION: Echinococcal involvement of the breast is extremely rare and usually not included in the differential diagnosis of breast lumps. OBSERVATION: This is an unreported case of a 56-year-old woman who came with a 3 cm mammary mass. Mammography showed a dense well-circumscribed lesion with calcifications. The diagnosis was established by fine needle aspiration and confirmed by pathological study. CONCLUSION: Hydatid cyst of the breast is rare. The diagnosis by fine needle aspiration is controversial. The treatment is based on complete excision of the cyst.

[Prenatal diagnois of uropathies. Ten case reports]. / Diagnostic anténatal des uropathies. A propos de 10 observations.

UNLABELLED: Obstructive uropathies are a frequent cause of child renal failure. The prenatal diagnosis of such abnomalities should lead to appropriate management. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the interest of ultrasonographic prenatal diagnosis of urinary tract malformations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 10 cases of urinary tract malformations diagnosed in utero. The mean age of the patients was 34.9 years and the mean gestational age at the prenatal diagnosis was 28.2 weeks of amenorrhea. The abnormalities diagnosed were: 2 cases of ureteropelvic junction obstruction, 3 cases of posterior urethral valves and 5 cases of mild hydronephrosis. The fetal karyotype, realised in 8 cases, was normal. In one case the urinary abnormalities was part of a multiple malformation syndrome and led to the termination of the pregnancy. 7 cases had a post-natal follow-up: 5 had a surgical management and two new borns had transient pyelectasies. The prediction of postnatal renal function is made by ultrasonographic appearance of the kidney and the amniotic fluid. Although the analysis of fetal urine for the assessment of renal function leads to conflicting results, it seems that sodium and beta-2 microglobulin urinary rates provide useful informations.