Assessment of the Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on the Sexual Function of Women, Levels of Oxytocin and Prolactin: A Prospective Cohort Study.

(1) Background: There is a lack of direct evidence on whether SARS-CoV-2 affects women's sexual function through a biological-organic mechanism. Existing studies on the topic are few and have produced contradictory results. This study aims to explore the possible relationship between sex hormones and sexual function in patients who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, we aimed to determine whether these changes are related to the clinical course of COVID-19 and whether they are temporary or long-lasting. (2) Methods: A study was conducted on 104 women, including 64 women infected with COVID-19 and a control group of 40 healthy women, between January 2021 and August 2022. Blood samples were collected to measure prolactin and oxytocin levels, and a clinical assessment was performed 3 and 6 months later. Sexual function self-assessment was captured based on the FSFI scale. (3) Results: Our study found that patients with severe COVID-19 had better sexual satisfaction scores one month after recovery but no discernible difference after six months. High levels of serum prolactin were observed in patients with active COVID-19 but became similar to a control group after one month and remained stable over time. Higher prolactin levels were significantly associated with increased arousal and hydration. Individuals with severe COVID-19 had notably low levels of plasma oxytocin, but there was no correlation between oxytocin levels and sexual satisfaction. (4) Conclusions: The gynecologic symptoms, as well as disturbances in oxytocin and prolactin levels, might be observed in a short time after infection. However, SARS-CoV-2 infection has no lasting effect on sexual function, oxytocin, and prolactin levels among women.

Assessment of the clinicopathological relevance of mesothelin level in plasma, peritoneal fluid, and tumor tissue of epithelial ovarian cancer patients.

Ovarian cancer remains the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. This is due to lack of effective screening, diagnosis predominance in late stage of disease, a high recurrence rate after primary therapy, and poor treatment response in platinum-resistant tumor. Thus, unique biomarkers, predictive of individual disease course, and prognosis are urgently needed. The aim of our study was to assess the clinicopathological significance of plasma, peritoneal fluid, and tumor tissue levels of mesothelin in epithelial ovarian cancer patients. Plasma and peritoneal fluid levels of mesothelin were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Tissue expression of MSLN was evaluated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Preoperative plasma mesothelin levels were significantly higher in epithelial ovarian cancer patients in comparison to the patients with benign tumor and controls. There have been noticed significant differences in the plasma mesothelin levels based on International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, grade, and histology type. No significant changes were observed between Kurman and Shih type I versus type II epithelial ovarian cancer. Interestingly, peritoneal fluid mesothelin levels revealed significant differences based on both grade and Kurman and Shih-type epithelial ovarian cancer. There were no relevant changes in the mesothelin level in peritoneal fluid between different stages and histology types compared to benign tumor. MSLN expression level in tumor tissue was significantly higher based on stage, grade, and Kurman and Shih-type epithelial ovarian cancer than in the benign masses. In addition, data showed significant higher MSLN expression in endometrioid tumors compared to benign masses and serous tumors. Plasma, peritoneal fluid, and tumor tissue levels of mesothelin positively correlated with level of CA125. Low mesothelin concentrations in plasma were also associated with prolonged patient survival. More importantly, we revealed that plasma mesothelin level was correlated with both peritoneal fluid mesothelin level and tumor MSLN expression. This study highlights that plasma mesothelin level may be a useful noninvasive biomarker surrogate for local tumor mesothelin status in monitoring of epithelial ovarian cancer patients.

[Assessment of the angle between puborectal muscles in women with and without stress urinary incontinence in three-dimensional sonograph]. / Ocena kata miedzy miesniami lonowo-odbytniczymi u kobiet z nietrzymaniem moczu i bez niego z zastosowaniem trójwymiarowej ultrasonografii.

UNLABELLED: Contemporary care of the woman, especially in the postmenopausal period is based not only on gynaecological periodic inspections, but also on the routine evaluation of the pelvis minorwith the ultrasound examination. Based on this examination we can manytimes initially diversify causes of wrong manifestations, so like, e.g., urinary incontinence, of social pathologies coming into existence in the result rolling within the pelvis minor. Urinary incontinence is a complaint which is changing the quality of life. Three-dimensional sonography (3D USG) supplies us more information than traditional two-dimensional sonography. It let us to make dynamic representation of examining structures and let us to observe them in any angle we need. The best way for sonographic examination of lower pelvis minor is translabial sonography, because it doesn't change mutual relationship of any parts in lower pelvic area, just like transrectal ortransvaginal probes can make. For good treatment of symptoms of urinary incontinence we have to perform not only functional examination of lower urinary tract, but also make very accurate rate of the static of female genital organs and pelvic floor. BACKGROUND: The aim of study was to rate the angle between both puborectal muscles measurements using translabial three-dimensional sonography in women with stress urinary incontinence without descension of the female genital tract. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Studied group included 100 patients who were examined with GE Kretz Voluson 730 (GE, Austria) scaner equipped 6-9 MHztranslabial probe. First group with stress urinary incontinence comprised 50 women in the mean age 56.22 (+/- 10.43) years old and the second without symptoms--50 women in the mean age 49.0 (+/- 13.22) years old. All cases of urinary stress incontinence in first group was confirm with urodynamic examination. Women in both groups were in similar body mass index, means (+/-SD): 26.88 (+/- 2.02) and 26.20 (+/- 4.14), respectively. Menopausal status in both groups was not statistically significant and aggregate 7.21 (+/- 8.71) in group of women with stress urinary incontinence and 4.70 (+/- 6.32) in group of women without symptoms. Means (+/- SD) quantity of deliveries was significantly higher in group of women with stress urinary incontinence than in control group and amount to 2.40 (+/- 1.03) and 1.56 (+/- 1.34), respectively. In all cases 3D USG coronal view of pelvic diaphragm was obtained and the angle between both puborectal muscles were measured. All women had about 200 ml urine in the bladder. RESULTS: Means (+/-SD) of this angle in these groups were 65.48 +/- 9.22 and 58.64 +/- 9.17 degrees, respectively. The differences between both groups in all measurements were statistically significant (p<0.0015). CONCLUSION: Stated during translabial three-dimensional ultrasound examination considerably different values of the angle between puborectal muscles at women with and without the urinary incontinence can be more helpful in a accurate diagnosing of the type of the urinary incontinence.

[Three-dimensional sonoangiography in diagnostic of endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma. An assessment of vascularization indices and endometrial volume]. / Trójwymiarowa sonoangiografia w diagnostyce rozrostów i nowotworów blony sluzowej macicy. Ocena indeksów naczyniowych oraz objetosci endometrium.

Three-dimensional sono-angiography was executed in 123 women with uterine bleedings in perimenopausal period. With the use of software for automatic measurement of volume of blocks (VOCAL, Kretztechnik, Austria) vascular indices (VI, Fl, VFI) and endometrial volume (EV) were estimated. Based on histopathological estimation of endometrium the patients were divided into the following groups: atrophic, proliferative, secretive endometrium, hyperplasia and endometrial cancer (EC). Mean EV in women with EC amounted to 16.82 ml and was significantly higher (p < 0.005) than in women with hyperplasia or without pathological changes. Mean values of vascular indices VI, Fl and VFI in the group of women with EC amounted to respectively 5.464; 25.995 and 1.898 and were also significantly higher in comparison to remaining groups of patients. The results of the investigation suggest, that three-dimensional measurement of endometrial volume with assessment of vascular indices (VI, Fl, VFI) can be valuable prognostic element improving a diagnostic precision of sonographic estimation of pathological changes of endometrium.

[Color Doppler blood flow measurements and microvessel density assessment in ovarian tumors]. / Ocena angiogenezy nowotworowej w guzach jajnika przy wykorzystaniu ultrasonografii z kolorowym Dopplerem oraz immunohistochemicznego badania gestosci mikrokapilar.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to compare ultrasound vascular blood flow indices with the expression of CD-34 in women with benign and malignant adnexal tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transvaginal color and pulsed Doppler sonography was performed before surgical procedure in 105 women with adnexal tumors. Blood flow indices: pulsatility index (PI) and resistive index (RI) in blood vessels with the highest flow velocity were measured within each tumor. Immunohistochemical analysis of microvessel density (MVD) was performed on representative highly vascular tumor specimens fixed in 10% formalin and paraffin embedded. The primary monoclonal mouse anti-human CD-34 antibody (1:25, DAKO, Denmark) was used. Statistical calculations included group comparison with Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA on ranks and correlation analysis (Statistica for Windows 6.0, Statsoft Poland). RESULTS: Mean age of the studied women was 55.6 +/- 11.5 yrs. Of 104 tumors, 35 (33.6%) were benign and 69 (66.4%) were malignant. The latter included 14 FIGO stage I cases. Low resistance or pulsatility indices (RI < 0.5 or PI < 0.8) were found in 58 of 69 (84%) malignant masses and in 21 of 35 (60%) benign tumors. Substantial overlap in measured indices was found between both studied groups. Median number of microvessels per high power field in the benign and malignant tumors were 37 (range: 14-156) and 68 (range: 25-177), respectively. These differences were statistically significant (p = 0.007, Mann-Whitney U test). Also, a significant correlation was found between MVD and low resistance to blood flow as measured by the PI or RI (r = 0.43, p < 0.05). However, no statistically significant differences in MVD were found between FIGO stage I and other stages of ovarian cancer. CONCLUSION: Low resistance to blood flow as measured by the resistive or pulsatlity indices used in color Doppler sonography may by positively correlated with the microvessel density in the malignant ovarian tumors.

[Assessment of serum lipid peroxide levels and antioxidant status in females who had undergone total abdominal hysterectomy without closing of the peritoneum]. / Ocena stezenia produktów peroksydacji lipidów oraz potencjalu antyoksydacyjnego w surowicy krwi u pacjentek po hysterektomii technika bez szycia otrzewnej.

INTRODUCTION: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated after the trauma caused by surgical intervention, have the capacity to react in an indiscriminate manner leading to damage to almost any cellular component (proteins, nucleid acids) and to lipid peroxidation. The assessment of ROS generation intensity process may help in understanding of molecular processes observed in the intracellular environment after operations. The evaluation of antioxidative level may give an answer about the efficiency of antioxidative defence mechanism. The peritoneum is an organ of high metabolic activity, connected with ROS generation and participated in healing process. The modern opinions suggest closing of postoperative wound without closing of peritoneum. The aim of this study was assessment of antioxidant status and serum lipid peroxide levels in early postoperative period, in females who had undergone total abdominal hysterectomy without closing of peritoneum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 women after total abdominal hysterectomy with salpingooophorectomy were studied, including 13 patients after peritoneal suturing (control group--C) and 17 women with nonclosed peritoneum (study group--S). The total serum antioxidant status (FRAP) was evaluated spectrophotometrically. The concentration of lipid peroxidation products was assessed in serum collected before operation and 8 and 24 hours after, as the concentration of lipid hydroxyperoxides (HPETE), malonyl dialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxyalkenals (4-HDA). RESULTS: The antioxidative level before operation was 1147.09 +/- 93.6 microM/l in S group; 1022.04 +/- 115.4 microM/l in C group and did not changed significantly in early postoperative period. MDA + 4-HDA level before operation was 1.08 +/- 0.2 microM/l in S group and 1.06 +/- 0.2 microM/l in C group; HPETE level before operation was 4.58 +/- 0.1 microM/l in S group and 4.72 +/- 0.1 microM/l in C group, 8 and 24 hours after the operation MDA + 4-HDA level increased respectively to 1.34 +/- 0.2 microM/l (by 27%; p > 0.05) and 1.46 +/- 0.2 microM/l (37%) in S group and to 1.16 +/- 0.2 microM/l (by 8%) and 1.62 +/- 0.2 microM/l (by 52%; p < 0.05) in C group. HPETE level decreased to 4.56 +/- 0.1 microM/l (by 1%) and increased to 5.23 +/- 0.2 microM/l (by 14%) in S group and increased respectively to 6.0 +/- 0.2 microM/l (by 27%; p < 0.01) and to 6.43 +/- 0.2 microM/l (by 36%; p < 0.01) in C group. CONCLUSIONS: The concentration of lipid peroxidation products after the operation was lower in study group, where peritoneum was left without closing. Total antioxidative level was the same in both groups. Obtained results suggest smaller ROS generation in study group.

[Non-closure of the peritoneum after hysterectomy--postoperative clinical assessment]. / Ocena kliniczna przebiegu pooperacyjnego u pacjentek po wycieciu macicy z przydatkami bez zszywania otrzewnej.

Dynamic development in modern medicine permanently brings the modifications of operation techniques. Both closure and non-closure of the peritoneum after gynecologic operations has been discussed recently. According to clinical observations provided by many authors, the controversial problem of non-closure of the peritoneum is still under discussion. Thus we decided to assess the influence of closing or non-closing of the peritoneum on short-term postoperative morbidity. The patients operated because of uterine myomae were the participants of our study. Total abdominal hysterectomy with suturing or non-closing of visceral and parietal peritoneum was performed. Our study revealed that non-closing of the peritoneum did not increase the amount of postoperative complications and it seemed to be a safe procedure.