A denigration curve to delineate the spread of communication about obstetric staff errors in Italy and its practical application.

Background: Mistrust of doctors and the desire for compensation are driving a rise in malpractice litigation worldwide. Aim: To estimate the extent to which Italians view birth complications as malpractice in obstetric care, and how widespread this perception is. Method: WhatsApp® and Facebook® contacts of one of the authors were invited to respond to an online questionnaire. The answers of 265 Italian respondents were used to estimate how common the perception of obstetric staff errors is and how this perception spreads over time: the denigration curve. To test if the denigration curve is reliable, the curve has been plotted along with the trend of the rate of litigation in Italy. Results: Almost a 50% of respondents deemed that birth complications are due to obstetric staff errors. The likelihood of the percep-tion that one has experienced a birth complication was 64.5%. The communication of obstetric staff error seemed low overall among the respondents. The denigration curve shape is almost coincident with the curve of claim rates in Italy, proving that it would be reliable. Conclusion: The respondents provided an estimate of the rate of birth complications that was higher than the real occurrence rate, and attributed these complications to obstetric staff errors. The denigration curve could predict whether and when there might be litigation related to any birth complications (both error related and non-error related).

Biomolecular basis related to inflammation in the pathogenesis of endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Endometrial cancer (EC) is a complex gynecological neoplasm with several clinical, histopathological and genetic features. Different hormonal, metabolic and biochemical axes are involved in pathogenesis. Obesity is a well-known risk factor for this disease and the role of local and systemic effects of adipose tissue, especially in the promotion of subclinical chronic inflammation, is an important issue. Indeed, inflammation is related to the pathogenesis of different tumors, including EC. This review aims to remark the role of obesity and inflammation in the pathogenesis of EC cancer through an exploration of the current literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a comprehensive review of the literature through a PubMed search using key words and including English language papers looking at this topic. RESULTS: Only few authors analyzed the role of inflammatory cytokines released by adipose tissue in visceral abdominal fat depots. Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, Interleukin-6, Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist, Nuclear Factor-kB, Leptin, Adiponectin and C Reactive Protein were studied for cancer risk prediction models, risk stratification or targeted therapies. Furthermore, genetic studies evaluated the effect of inflammatory cytokines secreted by visceral adipocytes in the modulation of angiogenesis and signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR, that result altered in the pathogenesis of EC. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of inflammatory biomarkers released by adipose tissue, in the pathogenesis of EC, could be useful in improving diagnostic accuracy, identifying targets of therapy, suggesting useful lifestyle behaviors. A deeper knowledge of the genetic background of alterations in inflammatory pathway genes could better define the population exposed to a higher susceptibility to EC due to genetic polymorphisms. Future studies are needed to better understand this field.

Predicting pelvic visceral hypersensitivity from the discomfort of Lugol' test during colposcopy.

OBJECTIVE: Assessing the pelvic visceral hypersensitivity after Lugol' staining during colposcopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: On an unselected sample of 91 patients, pelvic discomfort and discomfort during menstruation, sexual intercourse, defecation, urination were assessed (numeric rating score from 0 to 10) before colposcopy. Few minutes after Lugol' staining, it was assessed the discomforting perception provoked by iodine by using the same numeric rating scale. All those scores were increased by 1 to allow regression models (linear, logarithmic, inverse, cubic, quadratic, exponential). RESULTS: The only significant models were the linear, logarithmic and inverse ones for pelvic discomfort overall score and the linear one for sexual intercourse score. A discomfort score of 4.5 or less after Lugol' staining should be a normal reaction to iodine nociception in the vagina. CONCLUSIONS: Lugol' staining during colposcopy causes discomfort related with visceral nociception. The rise in numeric rating score after colposcopy can be used for screening pelvic visceral hypersensitivity.

Endometrial polyp harboring a primary B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a useful in-office hysteroscopic approach.

A non-menopausal women underwent gynecological evaluation for spotting and menstrual irregularities. After first line gynecological assessments, the patient underwent office hysteroscopy. By using an in-office technique, two isthmic endometrial polyps and one cervical polyp were removed. One endometFial polyp was found to harbor a B-cell high-grade lymphoma just on the apex (found to be necrotic). The following staging examinatioIns and the pathological assessment of the endometrium, the uterus, the adnexa, and the lymphatic regional nodes did not find any localization of the lymphoma. No additional treatments were done. The patient is alive and disease-free at 18 months follow-up.

Correlations between sonographically measured and actual incision site thickness of lower uterine segment after repeated caesarean section.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to verify how much the sonographically measured thickness of the lower uterine segment caesarean-section (LUS-CS) scar correlates with incision site thickness in a repeated caesarean section after uterotonic administration. METHODS: Sixty-three obstetric patients at term undergoing repeated caesarean section. LUS-CS thickness was measured sonographically before the repeated caesarean. Some seconds after delivery of the fetus and placenta and administration of an institutional, standard uterotonic, LUS was measured on the site of surgical incision (upper side and lower side) using Castroviejo's caliper. Multiple measurements were taken and averaged for improving accuracy. Mean measurements were used for calculations (unilinear correlations and multilinear regression analyses.). RESULTS: Poor correlation was found between sonographically measured scar thickness and lower uterine side incision thickness (r 0.311; C.I. 95% 0.068-0.519; P=0.013) and between sonographically measured scar thickness and uterine scar overall incision thickness (mean of upper side and lower side measurements) (r 0.254; C.I. 95% 0.007-0.472; P=0.045). Sonographically measured scar thickness was smaller in patients with two or more previous caesareans (P=0.045) and greater in patients who had undergone the last of the previous caesarean sections longer than two years earlier (P=0.043). Patients with two or more previous caesareans had smaller upper-side incision thickness (P=0.005); smaller lower-side incision thickness (P=0.038); smaller incision site overall thickness (P=0.006). CONCLUSION: Sonographically measured thickness and incision site thickness of the LUS-CS scar are poorly correlated (about 25%), despite the fact that patients most at risk for uterine rupture have thinner LUS, both sonographically and when measured during surgery.

A novel case of an adenomyosis-related uterine rupture in pregnancy.

To date, few cases of uterine rupture related to adenomyosis have been reported. The current case report briefly describes a novel case of an adenomyosis related uterine rupture, while focusing on few symptoms that this kind of uterine rupture may have. Due to increasing rate of adenomyosis in Western countries, practicing obstetricians should carefully take in account silent uterine rupture related to adenomyosis.

Primitive omental leiomyoma: a case report.

Primitive omental leiomyomas are very rare. The primitive omental location of the leiomyoma is quite difficult to determine, with the possible presence of "parasite" myomas and of omental metastasizing myomas. Moreover, omental masses may be primitive or secondary metastasis from neoplasms. In this case report a primitive omental leiomyoma is described, and their diagnosis and management are briefly discussed, in order to improve the knowledge of this very uncommon disease.

The role of hysteroscopy in the diagnostic work-up of infertile asymptomatic patients.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: To demonstrate that office hysteroscopy has a key-role in the diagnostic work-up of infertile couples. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The entire database of hysteroscopies performed in 572 menstruated women from 2008 to 2011, was retrospectively analyzed. A two-dimensional correspondence analysis among endometrial patterns, age ranges, and indication for hysteroscopies was made. A main-effect hierarchical log-linear model was built to assess the goodness of the correspondences found. RESULTS: A clear cluster of aggregation appears in case of both primary and secondary infertility, with and without other indications for hysteroscopy, as well as in case of primary infertility with irregular menstrual bleeding. In such patients, chronic endometritis, normal pattern, and uterine malformations were frequently found. The most significant correspondence was found for normal pattern and chronic endometritis in case of secondary infertility and primary infertility, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Office hysteroscopy should be reconsidered in the diagnostic work-up of infertile couples. It is able to assess or rule out endometrial factor for female infertility.

The pathogenesis of endometrial polyps: a systematic semi-quantitative review.

UNLABELLED: The pathogenesis and natural history of endometrial polyps are not very clear. The objective of this study was to assess the opinions of international medical literature regarding the factors involved in the pathogenesis of endometrial polyps and to organize the results consistently with what is known about endometrial physiology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review was carried out with the following search engines: PubMed, OVID, Scopus, SCIELO, and AJOL. Two hundreds forty-six abstracts were selected from the literature; of these abstracts, 58 factors were extracted and set as causative, non-causative, unclear or protective link with endometrial polyps. This relation is described through a correspondence analysis and tested with a main effect hierarchical log-linear model. RESULTS: The log-linear model resulted significant for the correspondence found with the following factors: (i) causative link (ageing, bcl-2 protein, excess weight/obesity, tamoxifen regardless of timing, relationship between estrogen receptors and prog-estinics, unbalanced estrogen therapy, estrogen-like effect, and unbalance between estrogens and progestinics), (ii) protective link (progestinics, antiestrogenic action), (iii) unclear link (menopause, ki-67 protein, angiogenesis, tamoxifen for a short time, tamoxifen for a long time, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), endometritis/inflammation), and (iv) non-causative link (none of the factors specifically). DISCUSSION: Subsequently to a review of the physiology of the endometrium, the onsetting of endometrial polyps was suggested through estrogen-related and non-estrogen related ways; the two ways can overlap. The most implied factors in the development of endometrial polyps are linked with one of these or both ways.

Could endometrial cytology be helpful in detecting endometrial malignancies?

This short communication assesses the concordance indexes between hysteroscopic biopsies and endometrial cytology for each endometrial pattern found in a sample of 37 women. Patients underwent endometrial cytology under sonographic guidance. The specimens were obtained with an endocervical brush and were fixed on slides (no liquid-based methods). After endometrial cytology, hysteroscopy with biopsy was performed. The best concordance index was found for endometrial malignancies, suggesting that endometrial cytology is able to detect cancers but not other endometrial diseases, as compared with endometrial hysteroscopic biopsies. Therefore, the overall concordance index suggests a fair concordance between histological and cytological findings. This leads us to conclude that usual endometrial cytology should not be recommended to screen endometrial diseases, but it may be used as an alternative diagnostic tool when hysteroscopic biopsies or other blinded procedures for endometrial sampling are unwanted, because it allows malignancies to be detected as well as hysteroscopic-guided biopsies.

Laparoscopic excision of endometriosis may require unilateral parametrectomy.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of laparoscopic excision of endometriosis with unilateral parametrectomy on bladder, rectal, and sexual function as well as patient satisfaction. METHODS: Women who underwent this procedure between February 1, 2006 and November 15, 2007 were enrolled. Patient characteristics, pre- and postoperative findings, and follow-up data were retrospectively collected from a computerized database. RESULTS: Twelve patients were enrolled in the study. All of the symptoms except dysuria improved after surgery, worsening long after the operation. It seems that all parameters including sexuality, micturition, and defecation are equally important in regards to the final judgement of satisfaction, with a trend towards amelioration long after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: Unilateral parametrectomy may offer successful results in terms of patient satisfaction despite some impairment in bladder, bowel, and sexual function. The risk of permanent functional impairment is high; therefore, surgeons need to maintain the integrity of the contralateral nerve pathway. This is highly important, because pain relief seems to be partially involved in the final judgement of postoperation satisfaction.

Malignant transformation of uterine leiomyomata.

The malignant transformation of a uterine leiomyoma is still debated and, if it occurs, it is very rare. The case of a patient affected by three small leiomyomas, monitored by the same gynecologist over the years is described. Two of these leiomyomas were transformed into leiomyosarcoma after menopause and the patient died despite receiving therapy. The case reported here is meant to underline the need to keep all uterine myomas in check since the transition into leiomyosarcomas may occur with an evolution over a time period which has not been established so far.

Does vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia have the same evolution as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia?

BACKGROUND: Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia is a little known disease which could be related to risk factors different from simple HPV infections. OBJECTIVE: To ascertain wheter vaginal lesions have a natural history similar to cervical lesions. MATERIALS & METHODS: A retrospective study to identify patients with vaginal lesions and synchronous cervical lesions through biopsy. The rate of mild cervical lesions (koilocytosis, warts, CIN I with and without koilocytosis) was compared with the rate of severe cervical lesions (CIN II and III, cervical carcinoma) in patients with mild vaginal lesions (warts and koilocytosis, and low-grade VAIN) and in patients with severe vaginal lesions (high-grade VAIN). Using koilocytosis as a marker, the rate of "active" cervical lesions was compared with the rate of "non active" cervical lesions in patients with "active" versus "non active" vaginal lesions. Finally, the rates of mild and severe cervical lesions were compared among each group of VAIN (low-grade, high-grade, with or without koilocytosis). RESULTS: In patients with mild vaginal lesions, mild cervical lesions were significantly more frequent than severe cervical lesions. In patients with "active" vaginal lesions the rate of "active" cervical lesions was significantly higher than "non active" cervical lesions. The differences in rates of mild cervical lesions and severe cervical lesions among patients with high-grade VAIN and low-grade VAIN (with and without koilocytosis) were not significant. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that CIN and VAIN may have some common features in certain cases, i.e., if an HPV infection is proved.

Bilateral Brenner tumor with endometrial adenocarcinoma in a postmenopausal woman.

Brenner tumor is a rare ovarian neoplasm which is generally monolateral, more rarely bilateral, and often associated with endometrial disorders related to oestrogenic production. However, there is no considerable evidence that the possible oestrogenic production of this tumor may be the cause of endometrial disorders. A case of bilateral Brenner tumor with endometrial adenocarcinoma in a postmenopausal woman is presented and the features are briefly discussed, with the conclusion that hormone-producing Brenner tumors may exert their promoter effect on the development of endometrial carcinoma causing an imbalance in the oestrogen and progesterone ratio rather than producing a large amount of oestrogen.

Malignant mixed müllerian tumor of the fallopian tube coincident with a primary serous carcinoma of the ovary. Case report.

Malignant mixed müllerian tumors are very rare neoplasms of the fallopian tube, and treatment is not well defined. A case of malignant mixed müllerian tumor of the tube concomitant with a primary serous carcinoma of the ovary is reported. It was unclear if there were two distinct neoplasms in the same patient, or if it was a single tumor with a sarcomatous fallopian conversion of the serous component, as described for some recurrent ovarian carcinomas. Chemotherapy for ovarian carcinoma with intraperitoneal metastasis was performed, with about a three-year interval-free period of disease, as could be expected for ovarian carcinomas at the same stage. Such coexistence of these two tumors does not afford adequate staging of the malignancy. Therapy for the very rare cases similar to the one reported here needs to be improved.

[Sensitivity, specificity, predictive positive and negative value of the main clinical signs and symptoms of hydatiform mole]. / Sensibilità, specificità, valore predittivo positivo e negativo dei principali segni clinici e sintomi della mola idatidea.

AIM: Especially in the first weeks of pregnancy, complete and partial hydatiform moles are not easily detected by sonography, symptoms and clinical signs. Due to the rarity of moles, it is possible that they may be confused with abortive pregnancies until the pathological examination. The aim of this study is to identify the sensitivity, specificity, predictive positive and negative value of the main symptoms and clinical signs of molar pregnancies. METHODS: Thirteen molar pregnancies have been detected after pathological examination from January 2003 to July 2005 in Perugia. Their main clinical signs and symptoms are compared with those recorded in 288 abortive pregnancies, 56 ectopic pregnancies and 27 Hyperemesis gravidarum, observed in the same period. RESULTS: Vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain are the most sensitive symptoms and have the highest predictive negative values. The size of the uterus greater for date is the most specific sign. Pelvic pain with hyperemesis, and uterus size greater for date have the highest predictive positive values, but the lowest sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: A mole should be excluded in patients with hyperemesis and pelvic pain, and in patients with uterus size greater for date. In the first case, a hyperemesis gravidarum may be diagnosed and, in the second one, a twin pregnancy may be confirmed with a sonographic scan.

[Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia and human papillomavirus infection: a report of 75 cases]. / La neoplasia intraepiteliale vaginale e l'infezione da virus del papilloma umano. Un resoconto di 75 casi.

AIM: Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VaIN) is an uncommon and poorly understood disease. Risk factors other than human papillomavirus (HPV) infection could be linked to the onset and evolution of some VaIN. METHODS: In this paper, the results achieved from the analysis of 75 patients with VaIN are reported. From these cases, women with HIV, previous hysterectomy, autoimmune diseases and radio- and chemotherapy have been excluded. Thus, most of these selected cases should be linked to the HPV infection. They have been examined after a distinction between grade and association with coilocytosis. VaIN preferential localization, mean age of patients and manifestation pattern after vaginal colposcopy have then been examined. RESULTS: Although the population size cannot allow evidences, it seems that VaIN with coilocytosis and VaIN I without coilocytosis have preferential localization in the upper third of the vagina. It does not appear that mean age of patients for each grade of VaIN differs significativly, both associated and not associated with coilocytosis. Finally, after vaginal colposcopy, the pattern of VaIN for each grade is absolutely not typical, and it seems that white thin epithelium or negative Lugol area are usually the manifestation of high grades of VaIN too. CONCLUSIONS: These results, if confirmed, could mean that VaIN due to HPV may have a different natural history relating to the site of localization in the vagina and, moreover, that also VaIN of high grade could appear with an innocent vaginal pattern.