Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with handgrip strength in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the possible association of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) with muscle strength and body composition. METHODS: The cross-sectional study evaluated 112 postmenopausal women (aged 41-71 years). Fasting blood samples were obtained for biochemical/hormonal assessment. The Mediterranean Dietary Score (MedDietScore) was calculated and used to stratify adherence by tertiles (low [T1], moderate [T2] or high [T3]). Handgrip strength (HGS) was measured by dynamometry and body composition with dual-X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Women with low-moderate MedDietScore (T1/T2) had lower HGS values than those with higher scores (19.5 ± 4.9 kg vs. 21.9 ± 3.9 kg, p = 0.023). A linear stepwise increase of HGS values per MedDietScore tertile was found (T1 vs. T2 vs. T3: 18.4 ± 4.4 kg vs. 20.6 ± 5.2 kg vs. 21.9 ± 3.9 kg, ANOVA p-value for linear trend = 0.009, ANCOVA p-value = 0.026). Multivariable models confirmed that HGS values were independently associated with the MedDietScore (ß-coefficient = 0.266, p = 0.010). Lean mass values were associated with the MedDietScore (ß-coefficient = 0.205, p = 0.040). All models were adjusted for age and cardiometabolic risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that the higher the adherence to the MD, the better the muscle strength and lean mass in postmenopausal women. Prospective studies are required to evaluate the significance of these observations in cardiovascular prevention strategies at midlife.

CytoSaLPs score: a promising new tool for the detection and screening of extrauterine high grade serous carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: A recent theory supports that high-grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer derives from the fimbrial end of the fallopian tube and during the last decade, a few studies have examined the fallopian tube cytology. Our study aims to determine the cytomorphological characteristics of both benign and non-benign salpingeal samples, in order to establish fallopian cytology as a valuable diagnostic test for women with high risk for development of ovarian/fallopian/peritoneal cancer. METHODS: Our study included patients undergoing salpingoophorectomy or total hysterectomy and salpingoophorectomy for any gynecological pathology. Using a soft brush, fallopian tube smears from the fimbrial end were collected ex vivo. The Cytologists of our Institution described the morphological characteristics of the fallopian cells by adopting a proposed Table, which had a calibration system ranging from 3 to 29. This Table is referred to as the CytoSaLPs Score. Our study compared the two diagnostic cytological methods, the one of the conventional cytology and the other using the CytoSaLPs Score, having as gold standard the tubal's pathological findings. RESULTS: A total of 230 tubal specimens from 144 patients were included in this study. The Score's mean for the benign and non-benign arm was 12.8 and 18.7 respectively. The cut-off point for both arms was 16.5. The CytoSaLPs Score tool showed significantly higher specificity (87.50% vs. 75.96, p-value < 0.001) and positive predictive value PPV (40.91% vs. 26.47%, p-value < 0.001) compared to conventional cytology. Regarding the accuracy, the Score's superiority is highlighted (86.96% vs. 76.52%, p-value < 0.001). CONCLUTIONS: The evaluation of tubal cytology using the CytoSaLPs Score could be used as a reliable diagnostic method. Further evaluation with larger studies is warranted.

Screening for perinatal depression and stress: a prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: There is currently a heightened need for perinatal medical services to timely recognize and accurately meet the psychological needs of pregnant women. Psychological disturbances a mother experiences during pregnancy, such as depression and anxiety, can be later associated with inadequate maternal capacity for antenatal care for herself and the baby, and may lead to subsequent mental health problems later in the mother's life. Routine prenatal assessment could significantly benefit from being proactively enriched with early prevention mental health screening tools to assess, appropriately manage vulnerable populations, and subsequently implement preventive actions. METHODS: 178 pregnant women, under routine prenatal medical assessment, were measured regarding depressive symptomatology and stress, through the use of two validated psychometric tools (the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14)). RESULTS: Heightened perceived stress and depressive symptomatology levels were associated with younger maternal age, an obstetrical record of more than one births and a history of abortion. Results additionally showed a connection between the requirement for a psychiatric referral-based on the levels of symptomatology recorded through the psychometric assessment and a clinical interview-and currently running the earlier stages (weeks) of pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Our revised proposed prenatal screening protocol for depression and stress suggests an amplified follow-up assessment including all pregnant women scoring high in both depression and in perceived stress, regardless of previous history of prenatal depression or of suicidality, to detect earlier or less manifest expressions of distress during pregnancy, in vulnerable perinatal populations.

The Gestational Effects of Maternal Bone Marker Molecules on Fetal Growth, Metabolism and Long-Term Metabolic Health: A Systematic Review.

Fetal exposure in adverse environmental factors during intrauterine life can lead to various biological adjustments, affecting not only in utero development of the conceptus, but also its later metabolic and endocrine wellbeing. During human gestation, maternal bone turnover increases, as reflected by molecules involved in bone metabolism, such as vitamin D, osteocalcin, sclerostin, sRANKL, and osteoprotegerin; however, recent studies support their emerging role in endocrine functions and glucose homeostasis regulation. Herein, we sought to systematically review current knowledge on the effects of aforementioned maternal bone biomarkers during pregnancy on fetal intrauterine growth and metabolism, neonatal anthropometric measures at birth, as well as on future endocrine and metabolic wellbeing of the offspring. A growing body of literature converges on the view that maternal bone turnover is likely implicated in fetal growth, and at least to some extent, in neonatal and childhood body composition and metabolic wellbeing. Maternal sclerostin and sRANKL are positively linked with fetal abdominal circumference and subcutaneous fat deposition, contributing to greater birthweights. Vitamin D deficiency correlates with lower birthweights, while research is still needed on intrauterine fetal metabolism, as well as on vitamin D dosing supplementation during pregnancy, to diminish the risks of low birthweight or SGA neonates in high-risk populations.

Heterotopic pregnancy after bilateral salpingectomy, IVF and multiple embryos transfer. A case report and systematic review of the literature.

Heterotopic pregnancy after bilateral salpingectomy is an extremely rare complication of in vitro fertilisation/embryo transfer cycles. We report a case of a ruptured abdominal pregnancy on the omentum which was the stimulus to conduct the first systematic review on this complication according to 'PRISMA' guidelines (PROSPERO R.No CRD42020134104). PubMed, EMBASE and OpenAIRE databases were systematically reviewed for studies reporting (a) cases or case series of, (b) heterotopic pregnancies after, (c) prior bilateral salpingectomy, and (d) embryo transfer cycles. Twenty-two articles met the selection criteria including, with our case, 28 cases. Based on the results, clinical manifestations and laboratory findings can be unspecific or misleading. Transvaginal ultrasound is the main diagnostic tool as the ectopic foetus is more frequently located in the intramural part of the fallopian tubes, the tubal stump or the ovaries. Laparotomy or laparoscopy are the main treatment options with adequate perinatal outcome.

Assessing the landscape of ovarian serous borderline tumors.

AIM: To compare distinct clinicopathological features between atypical proliferative serous tumors and non-invasive low-grade ovarian serous carcinomas. METHODS: Our study group comprised 203 cases of serous borderline tumors sub-classified as atypical proliferative serous tumors or as non-invasive low-grade serous carcinomas. All pathological features related to borderline tumors were re-evaluated by two gynecological pathologists. Data concerning recurrences and survival were retrieved from the medical records of the patients. RESULTS: When comparing atypical proliferative serous tumors to non-invasive low-grade serous carcinomas, the latter were statistically related to advanced stage at diagnosis, bilateral disease, exophytic pattern of growth, microinvasive carcinoma, and the presence of invasive implants. In univariate analysis, recurrences were statistically related to the exophytic pattern of growth, to microinvasion, and to the presence of implants (both invasive and non-invasive). Nevertheless, in multivariate analysis, only microinvasion and the presence of invasive implants were related to recurrence. Women who eventually succumbed to the disease were only those with invasive implants. Their ovarian tumor was either a non-invasive low-grade serous carcinoma or an atypical proliferative serous tumor with 'minimal' micropapillary pattern. Neither lymph node involvement nor endosalpingiosis seemed to influence the course of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study underline the increased possibility of non-invasive low-grade serous carcinomas to be related with features indicative of aggressive behavior as opposed to atypical proliferative serous tumors. Nevertheless, irrespective of tumor histology, the presence of invasive implants and microinvasion were the only independent prognostications of recurrence.

Identifiable Risk Factors for Lymph Node Metastases in Grade 1 Endometrial Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological features related to lymph node metastases in grade 1 endometrial carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five hundred ninety-nine cases of endometrial carcinoma treated with total hysterectomy bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and pelvic lyphadenectomy between 2001 and 2015 were retrieved from the pathology files of IASO Women's Hospital, Athens, Greece. Of these, 345 were grade 1 endometrioid carcinomas and were included in the study. Features such as the age of the patients, the stage, the location, and size of the tumors, as well as the existence of microcystic, elongated, and fragmented pattern invasion or lymph vascular space invasion, were estimated. RESULTS: In our cohort of endometrial carcinomas, features related to an increased risk of lymph node metastases were stages IB or higher; the location of the tumor in the lower uterine segment; the identification of microcystic, elongated, and fragmented pattern of invasion; and the existence of lymph vascular emboli. When considering the size of the tumors, only stage IA myoinvasive cancers of larger than 4 cm in diameter were significantly associated with nodal disease. In addition, a statistically significant relationship was found between the number of excised lymph nodes and the possibility to detect nodal disease. CONCLUSIONS: Full surgical staging carries a substantial risk of operative complications, and, indeed, it can be avoided in most cases of grade 1 endometrial carcinomas. Nevertheless, even in the low-risk group of patients, there are clinicopathological parameters that should alert the clinician for the possibility of a more disseminated disease.

Morcellating uterine mesenchymal tumors: The pathologist's view.

AIM: The study was conducted to delineate the histological problems in diagnosing uterine mesenchymal tumors in morcellated material. METHODS: All cases of morcellated uteri performed between 2008 and 2014 were reviewed. The incidence of unexpected malignancy, defined as any neoplasm with a clear-cut diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma (LMS) or endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS), was noted. Cases with absolute discrepancy between the diagnosis of the morcellated tumor and the subsequent diagnosis were also included in the study. RESULTS: Out of 631 cases, a final diagnosis of LMS or ESS was made regarding three and five tumors, respectively. Patient age ranged from 25 to 48 years. Two further cases initially diagnosed as ESS proved to be endometrial stromal nodules with smooth muscle differentiation. Two cases were diagnosed as smooth muscle tumors with uncertain malignant potential and the patients remain free of disease. One tumor was diagnosed as an endometrial stromal neoplasm and proved to be benign and finally a leiomyoma variant presented with presumed peritoneal disease. CONCLUSION: Both endometrial stromal and smooth muscle tumors with malignant behavior can be encountered at a young age. Because of the limitations in histological evaluation, morcellated tumors may be overdiagnosed or underdiagnosed by pathologists.

Methylene blue: how to visualize the endometrium in uterine morcellation material.

The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the preoperative intrauterine injection of methylene blue could help in visualizing the endometrium of uterine morcellation specimens. A total of 48 laparoscopic subtotal hysterectomies using the uterine morcellation technique were used for the study. In 19 of these cases, a preoperative intrauterine administration of methylene blue had been performed (study group). The total number of slides for each group, without and with methylene blue, was counted. Moreover, the number of slides comprising endometrial tissue was evaluated. The number of sections included in the control group to adequately assess the endometrium ranged from 6 to 95 (mean 27.24±4.01), whereas the respective number for the study group ranged from 4 to 10 (mean 7.21±0.44). The efficacy of recognizing adequate endometrial tissue (defined by the percentage of slides with adequate endometrial tissue over the overall slides requested to evaluate complete uterine histology) was significantly higher in the study group compared with that in the control group (67.05%±2.36% vs. 17.46%±2.66%, respectively; P<10(-3)). The preoperative intrauterine methylene blue administration when programming a uterine morcellation is an easy, cheap, harmless, and quick procedure that has many advantages. It reduces the time of gross handling and the number of tissue blocks submitted for examination without harming the morphologic appearance of the endometrial tissue. Moreover, it helps pathologists in identifying areas with endometrial pathology that would have probably escaped from attention in conventionally handled material.

Impact of Chemicals on the Age of Menarche: A Literature Review.

A growing body of evidence suggests that chemicals interfere with the age of onset of menarche. We conducted a review in order to demonstrate the relationship between several categories of chemicals and menarche. We searched for English language papers using the Medline/PubMed database until April 2023. The chemical factors found to affect menarche were prenatal and antenatal smoke, phthalates, phenols, organochlorines, perfluoroalkyls and polyfluoroalkyls, metals, air pollutants and polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Low or high exposure to each chemical compound could affect the age of menarche, leading to early or delayed menarche. Furthermore, the results show that intrauterine exposure may have a different impact from antenatal exposure. There is evidence that endocrine-disrupting chemicals affect the age of menarche, but more research needs to be conducted.

Primary follicular lymphoma of the uterine cervix: A case report.

Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the uterine cervix is a rare clinical entity. The present case report describes an incidence of primary cervical follicular lymphoma, diagnosed during management of concurrent cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. The present case report outlines not only the necessity of adhering to guidelines regarding the management of abnormal cervical cytology, but also the importance of expert pathological review and the need for personalized management.

Conservative treatment of endometrial cancer in women of reproductive age (Review).

Endometrial cancer is the fifth most common female cancer worldwide and the third leading female cancer in the Western world. The marked surge in endometrial cancer incidence is alarming. The aim of the present review is to focus on endometrial cancer affecting young women of reproductive age. Surgery, namely abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy, with or without salpingo-oophorectomy, and sentinel lymph node detection has become the standard surgical strategy for early stage endometrioid endometrial cancer. However, premenopausal women might want to preserve their fertility, especially if they are nulliparous or have not reached their desired number of children at the time of diagnosis. Conservative, uterus-sparing treatment, based on progestin products, may be an advantageous option for patients meeting the necessary criteria. Potential candidates have to be committed to following a rigorous protocol of treatment, investigations and follow-up. The evidence in favor of this approach, although limited, is encouraging and patients who have achieved a histologically documented disease complete remission could attempt to conceive spontaneously or with the immediate use of assisted reproductive technology techniques. The risk of partial or negative response to progestin treatment or cancer recurrence is well documented, thus patients have to be aware of the possible need for interruption of conservative treatment and hysterectomy.

Primary Hemostasis Disorders as a Cause of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding in Women of Reproductive Age.

Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is a common clinical condition affecting adolescent and adult women and compromising their quality of life. Primary hemostasis disorders, affecting platelet plug formation, can be the underlying cause of HMB. They comprise a heterogeneous group of diseases with Von Willebrand disease (VWD) being the most commonly diagnosed; other disorders in this group that have been linked to HMB include (a) Glanzmann thrombasthenia, (b) Bernard-Soulier syndrome, (c) Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome, (d) immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), and (e) Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD). Diagnosing these diseases can be challenging, as the basic laboratory investigations can be within the normal range. Thus, identification of specific clinical features and a thorough hematologic workup can be very important, providing the correct diagnosis. Proper diagnosis of the underlying disorder is important, as management may vary accordingly. Although disease-specific management guidelines exist for some of these disorders such as VWD and ITP, due to the rarity of most primary hemostasis disorders, the best approach for the management of HMB in these women remains elusive. The goal of this study was to create an informative, comprehensive review of the primary hemostasis disorders that have been linked to HMB. This study provides a summary of the basic published information regarding epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical phenotype, diagnosis, and treatment of HMB in those diseases and serves as a reference guide for further reading.

The Role of Diet during Pregnancy in Protecting against Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in a Population with Mediterranean Dietary Habits: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic disorder among pregnant women. Dietary habits during pregnancy might alter the risk of GDM development, and populations following the Mediterranean diet are relatively understudied. This was a cross-sectional, observational study of 193 low-risk women admitted to a private maternity hospital in Greece to give birth. Food frequency data on specific food categories, selected based on previous research, were analyzed. Logistic regression models, both crude and adjusted for maternal age, body mass index before pregnancy, and gestational weight gain, were fitted. We observed no association of carbohydrate-rich meals, sweets, soft drinks, coffee, rice, pasta, bread and crackers, potatoes, lentils, and juices with GDM diagnosis. Cereals (crude p = 0.045, adjusted p = 0.095) and fruits and vegetables (crude p = 0.07, adjusted p = 0.04) appeared to have a protective effect against GDM, while frequent tea consumption was linked to higher risk of GDM development (crude p = 0.067, adjusted p = 0.035). These results strengthen previously identified associations and underline the importance and potential impact of changing dietary habits even during pregnancy in adjusting one's risk of metabolic pregnancy complications, such as GDM. The importance of healthy dietary habits is highlighted, with the goal of raising awareness amongst obstetric care specialists regarding the provision of systematic nutrition recommendations to pregnant women.

Delivery Progress, Labor Interventions and Perinatal Outcome in Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery of Singleton Pregnancies between Nulliparous and Primiparous Women with One Previous Elective Cesarean Section: A Retrospective Comparative Study.

Trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) is an alternative to repeated cesarean for women with singleton pregnancy and one previous transverse lower segment cesarean section (LSCS), resulting in most cases being a successful vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC). The primary objective of this study was to examine if the progress and the duration of the active first stage and the second stage of labor in nulliparous women with singleton pregnancy, spontaneous start of labor and vaginal birth differ from primiparous women succeeding VBAC after one previous elective LSCS in a country with a low cesarean section and high VBAC rate. Secondary objectives were to compare labor interventions and maternal-neonatal outcomes between the two groups. METHODS: This is a retrospective comparative study. Data were collected in a four-year period at the departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Kristianstad and Ystad hospitals in Sweden. Out of 14,925 deliveries, 106 primipara women with one previous elective LSCS and a spontaneous labor onset in the subsequent singleton pregnancy were identified. Of these women, 94 (88.7%) delivered vaginally and were included in the study (VBAC group). The comparison group included 212 randomly selected nulliparous women that had a normal singleton pregnancy, spontaneous labor onset and delivered vaginally. RESULTS: The rate of cervical dilation during the active first stage of labor as well as the duration of the second stage did not differ between the two groups. When adjusting for cervical dilation at admission, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the duration of the active phase of the first stage of labor. No significant differences were found in maternal-neonatal outcomes between the two groups except for higher birth weight in the VBAC group. The use of epidural analgesia was associated with slower dilation rhythm over the duration of the active phase and second stage of labor, need for labor augmentation, postpartum bleeding and need for transfusion at higher rates, irrespective of parity when epidural was used. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides evidence that in women with one previous elective LSCS undergoing TOLAC in the subsequent pregnancy resulting in vaginal birth, the progress and duration of labor are not different from those in nulliparous women when labor is spontaneous and the it is a singleton pregnancy. The use of epidural was associated with prolonged labor, need for labor augmentation and higher postpartum bleeding, irrespective of parity. This information may be useful in patient counseling and labor management in TOLAC.

Tumor Markers and Their Diagnostic Significance in Ovarian Cancer.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is characterized by silent progression and late-stage diagnosis. It is critical to detect and accurately diagnose the disease early to improve survival rates. Tumor markers have emerged as valuable tools in the diagnosis and management of OC, offering non-invasive and cost-effective options for screening, monitoring, and prognosis. PURPOSE: This paper explores the diagnostic importance of various tumor markers including CA-125, CA15-3, CA 19-9, HE4,hCG, inhibin, AFP, and LDH, and their impact on disease monitoring and treatment response assessment. METHODS: Article searches were performed on PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Keywords used for the searching process were "Ovarian cancer", "Cancer biomarkers", "Early detection", "Cancer diagnosis", "CA-125","CA 15-3","CA 19-9", "HE4","hCG", "inhibin", "AFP", "LDH", and others. RESULTS: HE4, when combined with CA-125, shows improved sensitivity and specificity, particularly in early-stage detection. Additionally, hCG holds promise as a prognostic marker, aiding treatment response prediction and outcome assessment. Novel markers like microRNAs, DNA methylation patterns, and circulating tumor cells offer potential for enhanced diagnostic accuracy and personalized management. Integrating these markers into a comprehensive panel may improve sensitivity and specificity in ovarian cancer diagnosis. However, careful interpretation of tumor marker results is necessary, considering factors such as age, menopausal status, and comorbidities. Further research is needed to validate and refine diagnostic algorithms, optimizing the clinical significance of tumor markers in ovarian cancer management. In conclusion, tumor markers such as CA-125, CA15-3, CA 19-9, HE4, and hCG provide valuable insights into ovarian cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and prognosis, with the potential to enhance early detection.

Chronic Stress in Pregnancy Is Associated with Low Birth Weight: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic activation of the stress system has cumulative effects on the body, and it places individuals at risk for adverse health outcomes. Chronic stress has been assessed by health questionnaires in pregnancy. During the perinatal period, mothers experience increased physical and emotional demands. Chronic stress interferes with hormonal functions in mothers and infants. This meta-analysis studies the effect of maternal chronic stress during pregnancy, as assessed by established stress questionnaires, on the birth weight of their full-term infants. DESIGN AND METHODS: According to our criteria and after research collection, we obtained 107 studies and we conducted two types of analyses: a logistic (N = 22,342) and linear regression analysis (N = 7431). RESULTS: Our results show that chronic stress is associated with a statistically significant risk of low birth weight (OR = 1.50, CI 95% = [1.13; 1.99], p ≤ 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Increased maternal chronic stress, as assessed by questionnaires, in pregnancy is associated with a low-birth-weight baby. The above meta-analysis indicates that maternal high chronic stress questionnaire scores could be used as a clinical tool in order to assess low-birth-weight risk.

Fallopian tube cytology as a diagnostic tool for adnexal malignancy: the CytoSaLPs score.

INTRODUCTION: During the past decade, the theory that high-grade extrauterine pelvic tumors originate from the fallopian tube has been strongly suggested. Our study aims to illuminate the possible role of tubal cytology as an accessory identification tool for gynecologic extrauterine malignancies, allowing in the long term the implementation of population-level cytologic tube evaluation during all benign gynecologic surgeries that do not result in salpingectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We ex vivo collect salpingeal epithelial cells from the fibria directly from fresh fallopian tube specimens from women undergoing salpingectomy for any indication. The cytomorphologic characteristics of the salpingeal cells are subsequently evaluated and categorized into malignant and non-malignant. Finally, the ipsilateral adnexa are examined with the SEE-FIM (Sectioning and Extensively Examining the FIMbriated End) protocol and the pathology reports are corelated with the cytologic findings. Our research protocol is ongoing and is designed to include a total of 300 patients in order to confirm the sensitivity and specificity of salpingeal cytology as a method in the early diagnosis of extrauterine gynecologic malignancies. RESULTS: So far, we have obtained 343 salpingeal brushings from a total of 214 patients. The sensitivity of cytology regarding distinguishing malignant from non-malignant tumors is 69.64% (95% CI: 55.90%-81.22%), and its specificity 75.96% (95% CI: 70.59%-80.79%). Cytology's positive predictive value (PPV) is 16.33% (95% CI: 12.57%-20.67%), while the negative predictive value (NPP) reached 92.77% (95% CI: 89.56%-95.04%). In general, the diagnostic accuracy of the cytologic evaluation reaches 74.93% (95% CI: 66.99%-79.43%). CONCLUSIONS: Salpingeal cytomorphologic evaluation appears to be a promising method for early detection of adnexal cancer.

The Utility of Fallopian Tube Cytology in the Early Detection of Extrauterine Serous Gynecological Malignancies: A Narrative Literature Review.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to analyze the published evidence for the use of fallopian tube brush cytology for the early detection of extrauterine serous gynecological cancer. METHODS: We systematically searched the literature and, additionally, cross-checked on the bibliographies of selected articles. The inclusion criteria involved studies assessing the utility of fallopian tube brush cytology and its applications in the diagnosis, screening, or follow-up of extrauterine serous gynecological cancer. RESULTS: The search strategy resulted in 21 abstracts or full-text articles, 5 of which met the inclusion criteria. The year of publication ranged from 2016 to 2022, and a total of 193 fallopian tube samples were investigated. Cytobrush, Tubebrush©, and Cytuity™ were used to obtain salpingeal samples for liquid-based cytology evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that, at present, there is a lack of satisfying evidence-based data in the literature which would support the implementation of fallopian tube brush cytology as an adjunctive tool for early detection of extrauterine serous gynecological cancer. Thus, we believe that there is need for well-designed clinical studies to assess the effectiveness and diagnostic accuracy of the method as well as to validate the cytological criteria for the diagnosis and prediction of gynecological malignancies.

Dietary patterns are associated with arterial stiffness and carotid atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women.

PURPOSE: The increase in cardiovascular risk after the menopausal transition remains partly explained until today. Further research is needed to identify risk factors potentially modifiable by primary prevention practices. This cross-sectional study, part of a larger prospective project, aims to investigate possible associations between dietary patterns and indices of vascular structure and function among healthy postmenopausal women. METHODS: Postmenopausal women (n = 310) without clinically overt cardiovascular disease were recruited consecutively from a University Menopause Clinic over three years. Dietary intake was assessed by a validated food frequency questionnaire and the MedDietScore. In addition, we assessed anthropometric/biochemical parameters, including the Triglyceride-glucose index (TyG-Index), body fat distribution [triceps skinfold (TSF), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC)] and physical activity. The vascular assessment included carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), carotid and femoral-artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and atheromatous plaques presence. RESULTS: Consumption of non-refined cereals was associated with carotid-bulb IMT (R2 = 5.5% b-coefficient = -0.142; p = 0.011), adjusting for age, physical activity, lipids, systolic blood pressure, smoking, body mass index, insulin resistance, and daily energy intake. PWV was associated with the intake of total dairy products (R2 = 27.3%, b-coefficient = -0.117; p = 0.017). Higher red meat consumption was related to a greater TyG-index (Model 1, R2 = 14.3%, b-coefficient=0.121; p = 0.048), an association mediated by total daily energy intake. Higher consumption of alcohol, as well as the MedDietScore, were inversely associated with TSF measurements, significant after Bonferroni correction. CONCLUSION: Dietary patterns are associated with metabolic indices and subclinical atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women independently of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, total energy intake or physical activity.