First Trimester Evaluation of Maternal Visceral Fat and Its Relationship with Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes.

Obese women are more likely to experience pregnancy complications. The distribution of fat, and more particularly the rise in visceral fat, is well established to be more closely linked to the onset of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome than obesity itself. We aim to examine the relationship between maternal visceral fat assessment in the first trimester and the appearance of adverse pregnancy outcomes. A prospective cohort study including 416 pregnant women was conducted. During the first trimester scan (11-13 + 6 weeks), all individuals had their visceral fat and subcutaneous thicknesses measured by ultrasonography. Blood samples were obtained, and maternal demographics and clinical information were documented. After delivery, the obstetric outcomes were evaluated. We contrasted two groups: one with healthy pregnancies and the other with adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO), defined as the development of at least one of the following complications: gestational diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, abnormal fetal growth, preterm delivery or preterm premature rupture of membranes. Median maternal age was 33 and 34 years old for the uncomplicated and adverse pregnancy outcomes groups, respectively. We found that women with adverse pregnancy outcomes had higher VFT (median 30 vs. 26.5 mm, p = 0.001) and SFT (median 18.9 vs. 17.1 mm, p = 0.03). However, the visceral/subcutaneous fat ratio was not statistically different between groups. Finally, we performed a subanalysis for metabolic and placental vascular dysfunction complications. After performing a multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for maternal age, smoking, and mean arterial pressure, both the VFT (aOR 1.03, p < 0.001) and the ratio of visceral/subcutaneous fat (aOR 1.37, p = 0.04) were significantly associated with the development of adverse pregnancy outcomes; however, the associations of VFT and the VFT-to-SFT ratio were higher for the occurrence of gestational diabetes (aOR 1.07, p < 0.001; aOR 2.09, p = 0.001; respectively) and showed no relationships with placental complications. When conducting a first-trimester ultrasound assessment, sonographers may measure VFT without additional time or cost involved. Identification of pregnant women with increased VFT (>37 mm) may benefit from a close follow-up, especially for the development of gestational diabetes, independent of BMI.

Fetal cerebral three-dimensional power Doppler vascularization indices and their relationships with maternal glucose levels in pregnancies complicated with gestational diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate fetal cerebral circulation using three-dimensional power Doppler (3DPD) vascular indices and to study their relationships with maternal lipid and glycaemic profiles. METHODS: Case-control study in women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) at 28-32 weeks in which feto-maternal Doppler study and 3DPD cerebral vascularization indices (FI, VI and VFI) were determined. Maternal lipid and glycaemic profiles were also analysed. Both groups were compared and the correlations of the 3DPD indices with studied variables were analysed. RESULTS: There were significant differences between groups in cerebral FI (p= 0.02), mean maternal Uterine artery PI (p= 0.009) and glucose levels (p= 0.001), being higher in the GDM group. Significant negative correlations were found in GDM group between VFI and MCA PI (p = 0.02) and between VI and MCA PI (p= 0.01). In the GDM group we found a negative significant correlation between FI, VI, VFI and maternal glucose (r= -0.52, p<0.001; r= -0.32, p=0.03 and r= -0.36, p= 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Fetal cerebral FI values were higher in GDM pregnancies. All 3DPD vascular indices showed an inverse correlation with maternal glucose levels. These findings support the view that GDM may also represent a fetal vascular disorder influencing fetal neurodevelopment.

Chances of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing conservative management of early-stage endometrial cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Endometrial cancer is common and usually occurs after menopause, but the number of women diagnosed during reproductive age is increasing. The standard treatment including hysterectomy is effective but causes absolute uterine factor infertility. In order to avoid or postpone surgery, conservative management of endometrial cancer (CMEC) has been proposed for younger women who want to retain their fertility. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE: The main objective of this study was to estimate the chances of pregnancy and live birth for women with early-stage endometrial cancer (EEC) who are managed conservatively for fertility preservation. SEARCH METHODS: The PRISMA recommendations for systematic reviews and meta-analyses were followed. Structured searches were performed in PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library, from inception until 13 June 2021. Inclusion was based on the following criteria: group or subgroup of women with Clinical Stage IA, well-differentiated, endometrioid endometrial cancer (from now on, EEC); CMEC for fertility preservation; and reported frequencies of women achieving pregnancy and/or live birth after CMEC. The following exclusion criteria applied: impossibility to isolate/extract outcome data of interest; second-line CMEC for persistent/recurrent disease; CMEC in the presence of synchronous tumours; case reports; non-original or duplicated data; and articles not in English. Qualitative synthesis was performed by means of tabulation and narrative review of the study characteristics. Study quality was assessed with an ad hoc instrument and several moderator and sensitivity analyses were performed. OUTCOMES: Out of 1275 unique records, 133 were assessed in full-text and 46 studies were included in the review. Data from 861 women with EEC undergoing CMEC were available. Progestin-based treatment was reported in all but three studies (93.5%; 836 women). Complete response to treatment was achieved in 79.7% of women, with 35.3% of them having a disease recurrence during follow-up. Of 286 pregnancies obtained after CMEC; 69.4% led to live birth (9% of them multiple births) and 66.7% were achieved through fertility treatment. Based on random-effects meta-analyses, women treated with progestin-based CMEC have a 26.7% chance of achieving pregnancy (95% CI 21.3-32.3; I2 = 53.7%; 42 studies, 826 women) and a 20.5% chance to achieve a live birth (95% CI 15.7-25.8; I2 = 40.2%; 39 studies, 650 women). Sample size, average age, publication year, study design and quality score were not associated with the outcomes of progestin-based CMEC in moderator analyses with meta-regression. However, mean follow-up length (in months) was positively associated with the chances of pregnancy (regression coefficient [B] = 0.003; 95% CI 0.001-0.005; P = 0.006) and live birth (B = 0.005; 95% CI 0.003-0.007; P < 0.001). In sensitivity analyses, the highest chances of live birth were estimated in subsets of studies including only women of age 35 or younger (30.7%), the combination of progestins with hysteroscopic resection (30.7%), or at least 3 years of follow-up (42.4%). WIDER IMPLICATIONS: Progestin-based CMEC is viable for women with well-differentiated, Clinical Stage 1A, endometrioid endometrial cancer who want to preserve their fertility, but there is room for improvement as only one-fifth of them are estimated to achieve live birth according to this meta-analysis. Further investigations on prognosis-driven selection, hysteroscopic resection and long-term surveillance are arguably needed to improve the reproductive outcomes of CMEC.

Direct trocar insertion without previous pneumoperitoneum versus insertion after insufflation with Veress needle in laparoscopic gynecological surgery: a prospective cohort study.

The aim of this study was to determine whether direct trocar entry without prior pneumoperitoneum at umbilical level (DTI) can be a safe alternative to access the abdominal cavity in gynaecological laparoscopic surgery. We present a prospective observational analytical study of cohorts, comparing DTI with umbilical entry with trocar after previous insufflation with a Veress needle at umbilical level (V). The study period was performed from June 2013 to April 2016; data was collected on 600 patients who underwent gynaecological laparoscopic surgery. There were no significant differences in the risk of suffering a complication during the access manoeuvres between DTI (6.49%) and V (7.39%), OR 0.89 (95% CI: 0.42-1.81). The duration of the access manoeuvres was 69 s in DTI and 193 s in V (p < .001). The percentage of patients in whom two or more access attempts were performed was lower in DTI (7.8%) than in V (12.3%) (p > .05). We concluded that DTI is at least as safe as V, regarding the risk of suffering complications arising from access into the abdominal cavity. DTI has advantages with regard to V, such as: the shorter duration of access manoeuvres or the lesser number of unsuccessful entry or insufflation attempts. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? There are few international publications comparing DTI and V. When we conducted a search in PubMed for the terms 'Veress needle and direct trocar insertion', 51 publications were obtained. When we increased the restriction and added the terms 'laparoscopic entry and laparoscopy complications', 27 publications were obtained; thus, the uniqueness of our study. What do the results of this study add? We present a 3-year observational prospective study of cohorts that included 600 patients. The aim of this study was to determine that in laparoscopic gynaecological surgery, DTI is an access method to the abdominal cavity at least as safe as V, with respect to the risk of complications. On the other hand, DTI has some advantages such as the shorter duration of access manoeuvres or the lower number of failed entry attempts. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Given the limited number of publications that compared both techniques, our study indicates that DTI can be a safe alternative for access to abdominal cavity in gynaecological surgery, compared to the traditional V.

The Influence of Lipid and Proinflammatory Status on Maternal Uterine Blood Flow in Women With Late Onset Gestational Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with increased proinflammatory cytokines and is also associated with adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes later in life. We aim to evaluate the relationships between uterine arteries vascularization and endothelial dysfunction markers, proinflammatory cytokines, and glycemic and lipid profile in women with GDM. METHODS: Fifty pregnant women were recruited at the third trimester of pregnancy for a prospective cohort study. They were classified into 2 groups: control and GDM. Comparisons of maternal plasma concentrations of endothelial dysfunction markers (vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1), proinflammatory cytokines and mediators (interleukin 6 [IL-6], tumor necrosis factor α, vascular endothelial growth factor, placental growth factor, leptin, leukocyte count, and C-reactive protein), lipid profile, glucose, and glycosylated hemoglobin levels were performed. Mean uterine arteries Doppler pulsatility index (PI) was calculated and the relationships between the variables and PI were also analyzed. RESULTS: Women with GDM showed higher proinflammatory cytokines, however, endothelial dysfunction markers were similar in both groups. In the diabetic group, significant correlations were found between the mean uterine arteries PI and maternal IL-6 ( r = .56, P = .01), triglycerides ( r = .49; P = .03), total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) ratio ( r = .61; P = .006), glucose (r = .62, P = .005), and glycosylated hemoglobin ( r = .48; P = .03). A negative significant correlation between mean uterine arteries PI and HDLc ( r = -.58; P = .02) was also found. CONCLUSION: The proinflammatory status, hyperlipidemia, and metabolic control correlate with uterine blood flow velocity waveforms in women with gestational diabetes.

Indications of caesarean section in overweight and obese versus normal-weight pregnant women: a retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that indications of c-section in overweight or obese pregnant women are different from those with normal-weight. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study at University Hospital of Puerto Real (Cádiz-Spain). We compared frequency distribution of c-section indications in overweight and obese versus normal-weight. The risk of c-section by different indications was calculated as relative risk. RESULTS: A total of 4685 births were included in the study. There are significant differences in the frequency distribution of caesarean indications among normal weight and overweight or obese women. In overweight, we found an increased risk of c-section due to previous c-section (RR: 1.73; confidence interval [CI] 95% 1.24-2.42), obstructed/non-progressive labour (RR: 1.34; CI 95% 1.03-1.75), failed induction of labour (RR: 2.38; CI 95% 1.30-4.34) and foetal distress (RR: 1.73; CI 95% 1.21-2.49). This risk was even higher in obese women: previous c-section (RR: 3.25; CI 95% 2.24-4.71), obstructed/non-progressive labour (RR: 2; CI 95% 1.45-2.77), failed induction (RR: 2.52; CI 95% 1.15-5.51) and foetal distress (RR: 2.35; CI 95% 1.51-3.65). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of caesarean section due to previous caesarean section, obstructed/non-progressive labour, failed induction of labour or foetal distress is greater in overweight and obese than in normal-weight. This increase in risk also increases progressively as maternal BMI increases.

Prepregnancy body mass index influences lipid oxidation rate during pregnancy.

INTRODUCTION: The influence of maternal body mass index (BMI) on respiratory quotient during pregnancy is not clear. We aim to evaluate longitudinal changes in energy expenditure, respiratory quotient, and substrate oxidation rates in normal and overweight women with uncomplicated pregnancies. We hypothesized that the threshold period in switching from a predominantly carbohydrate to a predominantly lipid metabolism may be different in normal and overweight women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty healthy pregnant women were recruited for a prospective cohort study. They were divided into two groups, normal and overweight (BMI <25 kg/m2 or ≥25 kg/m2 ). Comparisons of indirect calorimetry data were performed monthly throughout pregnancy. The relationships between energy and substrate metabolism variables and maternal BMI were also analyzed. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in oxygen consumption (Vo2 ), carbon dioxide production (Vco2 ) and resting energy expenditure during pregnancy in both normal and overweight women. In the normal weight group, respiratory quotient decreased during the second trimester and increased in the last trimester. Respiratory quotient was lower in the overweight group in the second trimester and decreased in the last trimester; between-group differences being significant at 20 and 36 weeks (0.85 ± 0.06 vs. 0.81 ± 0.01, p = 0.009; 0.87 ± 0.05 vs. 0.80 ± 0.03, p = 0.01, respectively). Lipid oxidation was significantly higher in overweight women at both 20 and 36 weeks (36.8 ± 19.7% vs. 55.2 ± 5.6%, p = 0.003 and 33.6 ± 18.2% vs. 59.6 ± 12.7%, p = 0.007, for normal and overweight group, respectively). CONCLUSION: Prepregnancy maternal BMI influences lipid oxidation rate and respiratory quotient during pregnancy.

The influence of placental perfusion on birthweight in women with gestational diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of both uterine and umbilical arteries Doppler pulsatility indexes (PI) and metabolic control on birthweight in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus. METHODS: One hundred sixty-nine women with gestational diabetes were evaluated. Doppler measurements of umbilical artery and mean uterine arteries PI were recorded and the corresponding Z-score values by gestational age calculated. Maternal pregestational body mass index (BMI) and the levels of glycosylated hemoglobin were also recorded. The relationships between these studied variables and customised birthweight centiles according to sex and gestational age were analyzed using Spearman's correlation coefficient and linear regression. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between birthweight centiles and Z-score values of the umbilical artery PI (r = -0.25, p = 0.001), but not with the Z-score values of the uterine artery PI (r = -0.12, p = 0.43). Third trimester maternal glycosylated hemoglobin was also positively correlated to birthweight (r = 0.29, p = 0.01). When using stepwise linear regression both maternal glycosylated hemoglobin and the Z-score of umbilical artery PI were included as independent variables in the predictive model of birthweight centile (p = 0.0002, p = 0.001 respectively, R(2)( )= 0.27). CONCLUSIONS: Umbilical artery PI predicts birthweight in women with gestational diabetes. However, metabolic control is the only important determinant of fetal macrosomia in these mothers.

Treatment of D alloimmunization in pregnancy with plasmapheresis and intravenous immune globulin: case report.

The prevalence of D alloimmunization occurs between 0.15% and 0.4%. The anti-D can cross the placenta and cause hemolysis and fetal anemia. At present, a Doppler study of the middle cerebral artery allows the monitoring of the degree of fetal anemia. The treatment in cases of moderate to severe anemia in fetuses of less than 34-35 weeks of gestation is intrauterine transfusion via cordocentesis. However, with high titers of anti-D, in the absence of fetal anemia it is possible to modulate the maternal immune response by plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobulin administration. We present a case report of an Rh(D) alloimmunized pregnancy treated with plasmapheresis followed by intravenous immunoglobulin administration. We performed a caesarean section at 31 weeks, 5 days of gestation. The hemoglobin at birth was 13.8 g/dl and hematocrit 40.8%. Intrauterine transfusion was not necessary.

When is see-and-treat hysteroscopic polypectomy successful?

OBJECTIVE(S): To identify factors associated with a successful see-and-treat hysteroscopic polypectomy. STUDY DESIGN: We have retrospectively studied a population of 229 women with endometrial polyps who were referred to office hysteroscopy at the hysteroscopy unit of a large university hospital. See-and-treat polypectomy with 5-French microinstruments was routinely attempted. Cases where the endometrial polyp was successfully removed were compared to those who had to be referred to polyp resection with the resectoscope. Bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses where used to identify factors associated with the success of see-and-treat polypectomy. RESULTS: Outpatient hysteroscopy was feasible on 223 patients, confirming endometrial polyps in all of them. See-and-treat polypectomy with 5-French micro-instruments was successful in 65.5% of the cases (146/223). Bivariate analysis suggested an association of successful see-and-treat with younger age, lower BMI, premenopausal status, smaller polyps, easy hysteroscopic access and painless examinations. Multiple logistic regression confirmed the independent association of a successful see-and-treat polypectomy with premenopausal status (OR 3.623; 95%CI 1.302-10.084) and smaller polyp size (OR 0.891; 95%CI 0.846-0.938). Pain was confirmed as an independent, limiting factor (OR 0.085; 95%CI 0.034-0.214). CONCLUSION: See-and-treat hysteroscopic polypectomy with 5-French instruments is effective and feasible but its success is lower in case of pain, larger polyps and postmenopausal patients.

Total laparoscopic hysterectomy with and without robotic assistance: a prospective controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Hysterectomies are very common, and most of them are still performed abdominally. The minimally invasive alternatives are perceived as difficult by gynecologists. Robotic assistance is thought to facilitate laparoscopic surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes of robotic-assisted and conventional total laparoscopic hysterectomy. METHODS: Patients, candidate to hysterectomy for benign indications, were allocated to either robotic or conventional laparoscopy in a quasi-randomized fashion. Patients were operated following a standardized surgical protocol. Main outcome measures were total surgical time, conversions to laparotomy, blood loss, hospital stay, and complications. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients underwent robotic hysterectomy (mean age = 46.59 years) and 54 conventional laparoscopy (mean age = 50.02 years). The groups were homogeneous in body mass index and uterine weight. Robotic-assisted hysterectomies were significantly shorter (154.63 ± 36.57 vs 185.65 ± 42.98 minutes in the control group; P = .0001). Patients in the robotic group also had a significantly smaller reduction in hemoglobin (9.69% ± 8.88% vs 15.29% ± 8.39% in controls; P = .0012) and hematocrit (10.56% ± 8.3% vs 14.89% ± 8.11%; P = .008). No intraoperative conversions to laparotomy were required. Complication rate was low and similar in both groups. All patients were fully recovered at 1-month follow-up outpatient visit. CONCLUSIONS: Significantly lower operative times and blood loss indicate that robotic assistance can facilitate surgery already during the learning curve period. Nevertheless, proficiency can be reached in conventional laparoscopy through training, and the cost-effectiveness of robotic hysterectomy for benign conditions is yet to be confirmed.

Panoramic radiomorphometry and vertebral fractures in Spanish postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between panoramic radiomorphometric indexes, and the presence of osteoporotic fractures in a Spanish postmenopausal women. METHODS: A sample of 120 women (60 with fragility spine fractures and 60 healthy), aged 55-70 years, with fragility spine fractures, were included in this cross-sectional study that was conducted from 2008 to 2011. All the women were referred to undergo a radiological spine examination, spinal densitometry and a panoramic radiograph for assessing osteoporosis using 3 radiomorphometric indexes: Panoramic Mandibular Index (PMI), Mental Index (MI) and Mandibular Cortical Index (MCI). According to mandibular cortical shape, in MCI, three groups were defined: C3 (osteoporosis), C2 (osteopenia), C1 (health). RESULTS: Significant differences were found between all the MCI groups due to their composition between fractures and non-fractures. C1 group (healthy) has less fractures women than C2 (Bonferroni p<0.001), C1 has less fractures than C3 (Bonferroni p<0.001) and finally, C2 has less fractures than C3 (Bonferroni p<0.006). PMI and MI values were significantly lower in cases than in controls (U Mann-Whitney p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Panoramic radiomorphometrics mandibular indexes such as MCI, PMI, and MI, may be useful for identifying the population at higher risk for fracture. The relationship between panoramic index and osteoporosis remains unclear and further studies using fragility fracture as a real marker of osteoporosis are warranted to clarify the exact role and effect of one condition on the other and the corresponding clinical implications.

Molecular diagnosis of endometrial cancer from uterine aspirates.

Rapid and reliable diagnosis of endometrial cancer (EC) in uterine aspirates is highly desirable. Current sensitivity and failure rate of histological diagnosis limit the success of this method and subsequent hysteroscopy is often necessary. Using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction on RNA from uterine aspirates samples, we measured the expression level of 20 previously identified genes involved in EC pathology, created five algorithms based on combinations of five genes and evaluated their ability to diagnose EC. The algorithms were tested in a prospective, double-blind, multicenter study. We enlisted 514 patients who presented with abnormal uterine bleeding. EC was diagnosed in 60 of the 514 patients (12%). Molecular analysis was performed on the remnants of aspirates and results were compared to the final histological diagnoses obtained through biopsies acquired by aspiration or guided by hysteroscopy, or from the specimens resected by hysterectomy. Algorithm 5 was the best performing molecular diagnostic classifier in the case-control and validation study. The molecular test had a sensitivity of 81%, specificity of 96%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 75% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 97%. A combination of the molecular and histological diagnosis had a sensitivity of 91%, specificity of 97%, PPV of 79% and NPV of 99% and the cases that could be diagnosed on uterine aspirate rose from 76 to 93% when combined with the molecular test. Incorporation of the molecular diagnosis increases the reliability of a negative diagnosis, reduces the need for hysteroscopies and helps to identify additional cases.

The "tele" factor in surgery today and tomorrow: implications for surgical training and education.

New technological developments in the field of telecommunications have allowed a wide range of potentially novel surgical applications. The introduction of the World Wide Web in 1991 has been followed by a steep rise of the relevance of telemedicine, as it is witnessed in the latest scientific literature. There has been a consistent, positive trend in publications dealing, respectively, with telemedicine and the Internet. This article reviews telemedicine and other surgery-related innovations that benefit from telecommunication advances, and presents data from a quantitative bibliographic analysis. A number of applications, such as telementoring, teleproctoring and robotic telesurgery are described and their huge potentials are discussed. The integration between surgery and telecommunications could constitute one of the major achievements of modern medicine, and its safe integration into clinical practice should be a priority for modern surgeons.

Intrauterine Adhesions following Conservative Treatment of Uterine Fibroids.

Uterine fibroids are common in women of reproductive age and various conservative treatments are available. In order to achieve a successful conservative treatment of fibroids, functional integrity of the uterus is as important as tumor removal or symptoms relief. In this context, intrauterine adhesions must be recognized as a possible complication of conservative management of uterine fibroids, but diagnostic pitfalls might justify an underestimation of their incidence. Hysteroscopic myomectomy can cause adhesions as a result of surgical trauma to the endometrium. The average reported incidence is around 10% at second-look hysteroscopy, but it is higher in certain conditions, such as the case of multiple, apposing fibroids. Transmural myomectomies also have the potential for adhesion, especially when combined with uterine ischemia. Uterine arteries embolization also carries a risk of intracavitary adhesions. Prevention strategies including bipolar resection, barrier gel or postoperative estradiol, might be useful, but stronger evidence is needed. In view of current knowledge, we would recommend a prevention strategy based on a combination of surgical trauma minimization and identification of high-risk cases. Early hysteroscopic diagnosis and lysis possibly represents the best means of secondary prevention and treatment of postoperative intrauterine adhesions.

Nup88 expression is associated with myometrial invasion in endometrial carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The nuclear pore complex protein Nup88 has been shown in previous studies to be overexpressed in tumor cells and to be associated in breast cancer with all clinical and biological features defining a more aggressive phenotype. METHODS: In this pilot study, Nup88-mRNA expression was studied in a series of 29 endometrial carcinomas, of which 27 belonged to the endometrioid variety, the remaining 2 being papillary serous tumors, to verify if Nup88 plays a similar role in endometrial carcinoma as the one described in breast cancer. The tumor samples were obtained directly at the operating suite and fresh frozen at the time of hysterectomy. Nup88-mRNA expression was studied in them by means of differential reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Nup88-mRNA expression was correlated with the clinical features of the tumors. RESULTS: A significant correlation (r = 0.41, P = 0.027) was found between growing levels of Nup88-mRNA expression and depth of myometrial invasion. There was no correlation between Nup88-mRNA expression and the other 2 available clinical parameters, that is, tumor grade (r = 0.05, P = 0.79) and surgical stage (r = -0.18, P = 0.34). CONCLUSIONS: From these results, it is concluded that Nup88 expression seems indeed to be associated with a distinct feature of tumor aggressiveness (myometrial invasion) in endometrial carcinoma and that larger studies are therefore probably worthwhile.

Role of nitric oxide on mitochondrial biogenesis during the ovarian cycle.

The mitochondrial changes in the ovary during the ovarian cycle are adapted to a cyclically increased-decreased energy demand. In the proliferative phase, the increased energy needs are sustained by the recruitment of mitochondria in active state 3, by an increased tissue O2 consumption and ATP production and by an increase in the number of mitochondria. In the phase of decreased energy needs, mitochondria-dependent apoptosis reduces tissue and mitochondrial O2 uptake. The ovary morphological changes during the cycle describe a process in which the follicles undergo a clear cycle with two sequential phases: proliferation and apoptosis. The follicular growth stimulated by FSH characterizes a tissue that shows a quick cell proliferation. During the ovarian cycle, tissue and mitochondrial O2 uptakes, mitochondrial mass, mitochondrial NO production and cytochrome oxidase activity exhibit a biphasic pattern, with marked increases in the ovary proliferative phases. Relatively low levels of NO seem to drive the cell signaling for follicle proliferation, whereas relatively high NO levels trigger mitochondria-dependent follicle apoptosis.

Mitochondrial function and mitochondria-induced apoptosis in an overstimulated rat ovarian cycle.

Female rats were treated with FSH (40 IU/kg) on the first and second diestrus days (D1 and D2) and with LH (40 IU/kg) on the proestrus (P) day to synchronize and maximize ovarian changes. Follicle area increased by 50% from D1 to P, and the estrus (E) phase showed multiple corpora lutea and massive apoptosis. Increased oxygen uptakes (42-102%) were determined in ovary slices and in isolated mitochondria in active state 3 along the proliferation phase (D1-D2-P) that returned to initial values in the E phase. Mitochondrial content and the electron transfer activities of complexes I and IV were also maximal in the P phase (20-79% higher than in D1). Production of NO by mitochondrial nitric oxide synthase (mtNOS), biochemically determined, and the mtNOS functional activity in regulating state 3 oxygen uptake were also maximal at P and 79-88% higher than at D1. The moderately increased rate of NO in the proliferative phase is associated with mitochondrial biogenesis, whereas the high rate of NO generation by mtNOS at phase P appears to trigger mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. The calculated fraction of ovary mitochondria in state 3 was at a minimal value at the P phase. Mitochondrial oxidative damage, with increased thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and protein carbonyls, indicates progressive mitochondrial dysfunction between phases P and E. The roles of mitochondria as ATP provider, as a source of NO to signal for mitochondrial proliferation and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis, and as a source of O(2)(-) and H(2)O(2) appear well adapted to serve the proliferation-apoptosis sequence of the ovarian cycle.

Hysterectomy after endometrial ablation-resection.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reasons for performing a hysterectomy in patients who had previously undergone endometrial ablation-resection (EA-R), after a follow-up of at least 6 years. DESIGN: Retrospective study (Canadian Task Force classification II-3). SETTING: University-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: Eighty-nine premenopausal women who underwent EA-R from February 1991 through February 2003. INTERVENTIONS: Endometrial ablation-resection by electrocoagulation using a rollerball of the uterine fundus and tubal ostia zone, and electroresection using a cutting loop of the rest of the uterine cavity. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: During a minimum follow-up period of 6 years, hysterectomy was performed in 16 of 89 (17.97%) patients. In eight (9%) patients, hysterectomy was performed exclusively because of the failure of EA-R. The only factor that was related significantly to the increased possibility of requiring subsequent hysterectomy was the existence of myomas. CONCLUSION: After long-term follow-up (more than 5 years), approximately one out of every five women who undergo EA-R will require a hysterectomy. The majority of these will be required during the first 2 years following EA-R. The existence of uterine myomas at the time of EA-R can be considered a risk factor for the subsequent need for hysterectomy.