Vaginal laser therapy for GSM/VVA: where we stand now - a review by the EUGA Working Group on Laser.

Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) is a chronic progressive condition that involves the genital and lower urinary tracts, related to the decrease of serum estrogenic levels when menopause occurs. The definition of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is a medically more accurate, all-encompassing and publicly acceptable term than VVA. Due to the chronic progressive trend of GSM, symptoms tend to reappear after the cessation of therapy, and frequently long-term treatment is required. First-line therapies include vulvar and vaginal lubricant or moisturizers, and, in the case of failure, low-dose vaginal estrogens are the preferred pharmacological therapy. Populations of patients, such as breast cancer (BC) survivors, are affected by iatrogenic GSM symptoms with concerns about the use of hormonal therapies. The non-ablative erbium:YAG laser and the fractional microablative CO2 vaginal laser are the two main lasers evaluated for GSM treatment. The aim of this comprehensive review is to report the efficacy and safety of Er:YAG and CO2 vaginal lasers for GSM treatment. Vaginal laser therapy has been demonstrated to be effective in restoring vaginal health, improving VVA symptoms and sexual function. The data suggest that both Er:YAG and CO2 vaginal lasers are safe energy-based therapeutic options for management of VVA and/or GSM symptoms in postmenopausal women and BC survivors.

Video-Assisted Anal Fistula Treatment (VAAFT) for complex anorectal fistula: efficacy and risk factors for failure at 3-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the 3-year objective and subjective outcomes of patients with complex anorectal fistula treated with Video-Assisted Anal Fistula Treatment (VAAFT). Furthermore, we evaluated the risk factors associated with recurrence. METHODS: All consecutive patients with complex anorectal fistula who underwent VAAFT in Beata Vergine Hospital of Mendrisio, Switzerland, from January 2013 to January 2016, were enrolled. Patients with suspicion or diagnosis of Crohn's disease, malignancy, previous history of radiotherapy or radical pelvic surgery were excluded. Preoperative clinical assessment based upon medical history, physical examination and endosonography, was performed in all patients. Data regarding subjective outcomes (the Patient Global Impression of Improvement, patient satisfaction scores and Wexner score), objective cure rate (absence of fistula at clinical examination), and adverse events were collected during follow-up. Uni and multivariate analysis were performed to investigate outcomes. RESULTS: One hundred and four patients had VAAFT. At 3-year follow-up, 96 patients (92.3%) were available for the evaluation. At 3 years after surgery, 81 of 96 patients (84.4%) declared themselves cured (p = 0.60). Similarly, at 3-year evaluation, 80 of 96 patients (83.3%) were objectively cured (p = 0.52). No serious intraoperative or postoperative complications were reported. All recurrences were treated with a repeat VAAFT procedure resulting in a complete healing. Uni and multivariate analysis of variables potentially involved in the failure of VAAFT showed that age ≥ 50 years was the only factor associated at risk of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: VAAFT is a highly effective safe procedure for the treatment of anorectal fistula, with a low recurrence rate at 3-year follow-up. However, our study demonstrated that age ≥ 50 years is a risk factor for failure of VAAFT.

Transvaginal contained tissue extraction after laparoscopic myomectomy: a cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the technique and report perioperative outcomes of transvaginal contained extraction of surgical specimens at laparoscopic myomectomy. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. SETTING: Two Italian referral centres for gynaecological minimally invasive surgery. POPULATION: Consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic myomectomy. METHODS: Tissue extraction was accomplished following laparoscopic myomectomy in a specimen retrieval bag via a posterior colpotomy incision. If morcellation was necessary, this was performed extracorporeally, using a scalpel within the specimen retrieval pouch, whose edges were exteriorised through the vaginal introitus. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intra- and postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 316 women underwent transvaginal specimen retrieval with enclosed manual morcellation. The mean myomectomy specimen weight was 154 ± 128 g, and the mean operative time was 79 ± 26 minutes. No intraoperative complications occurred related to the specimen extraction or morcellation technique, or from rupture of the retrieval bag. Two (0.6%) women had a haemoperitoneum that spontaneously resolved and 16 (5.1%) had fever postoperatively. The final pathological diagnosis was benign in all cases. At the 30-day follow-up, no pelvic infection, vaginal dehiscence, or complaints of dyspareunia were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Contained transvaginal extraction of fibroid specimens can be performed safely and efficiently in most women undergoing laparoscopic myomectomy. This technique represents a valuable minimally invasive alternative to intracorporeal morcellation. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Transvaginal contained morcellation at laparoscopic myomectomy is a valuable alternative to intracorporeal morcellation.

Is there an association between severity of illness and psychiatric symptoms in patients with chronic renal failure?

Chronic renal failure (CRF) is a frequent condition in elderly subjects, and it is associated with psychiatric comorbidity, especially depressive symptoms. Purpose of the present research was to compare patients with different severity of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in terms of psychiatric symptoms. One hundred CKD subjects were randomly selected among those attending the Department of Nephrology, University of Milan. The patients were evaluated through the following rating scales: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Symptom Checklist (SCL-90), Kidney Disease Quality of Life- Short Form (KDQOL-SF) and Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS). A multivariable linear regression analysis was performed considering eGFR as continuous-dependent variable and rating scale scores as independent variables. A worse eGFR significantly correlated with the score about the effects of kidney disease on daily life (r = 0.25, p = 0.01) and the burden of kidney disease (r = 0.18, p = 0.05). Statistical significance of kidney disease on daily life persisted also in the final multivariate model (t = 2.04, p = 0.04). Severity of renal dysfunction seems to influence few psychiatric outcomes, particularly those related to quality of life and daily functioning. This result might depend on the over-worrying derived from the necessity to start a renal replacement therapy in the near future.

The impact of urinary stress incontinence in young and middle-age women practising recreational sports activity: an epidemiological study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of urinary stress incontinence (USI) in menstruating women practising recreational sports activity, to detect specific sports with a stronger association with urinary incontinence (UI) and to evaluate risk factors possibly related to this condition. DESIGN: Epidemiological study. SETTING: Non-competitive sports organisations in the province of Varese, Italy. PARTICIPANTS: 679 women of fertile age, practising recreational sports activity. INTERVENTION: Anonymous questionnaire on UI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The questionnaire included questions about patients' general characteristics, occurrence of UI in relation to sport or daily general activities, time of onset of this condition, frequency of leakage episodes, correlation of incontinence with types of movements or sports, subjective impression of being limited on such occasions and/or necessity to modify the type of sport. RESULTS: UI was reported by 101 women (14.9%). Of these, 32 (31.7%) complained of UI only during sports activity, 48 (47.5%) only during daily life and 21 (20.8%) in both circumstances. Body mass index and parity were significantly associated with the risk of UI. Looking at the different sports activities, a higher rate of incontinence was found in women participating in basketball (16.6%), athletics (15%), and tennis or squash (11%). 10.4% of women abandoned their favourite sport, because of USI, and a further 20% limited the way they practised their favourite sport to reduce leakage episodes. CONCLUSIONS: Female UI affects a significant proportion of young women practising non-competitive sports activity; it can cause abandonment of the sport or limitation of its practice.

Efficacy of tolterodine in women with detrusor overactivity and anterior vaginal wall prolapse: is it the same?

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of tolterodine in women with overactive bladder (OAB) and concomitant anterior vaginal prolapse. In this prospective study, 235 consecutive women with OAB symptoms and urodynamic diagnosis of detrusor overactivity who either had no prolapse or had pure anterior vaginal prolapse were included: 184 women (group 1) had no prolapse and 51 women (group 2) had anterior prolapse greater than and equal to stage IIa. Tolterodine 4 mg slow release once a day was prescribed. After 12 weeks, women were reassessed using a 3-point scale (no change, improvement and cured). A total of 158 (85.9%) women in group 1 and 31 (60.8%) women in group 2 reported improvement or cure (P = 0.0002). Women with OAB and significant anterior vaginal prolapse should be informed of a reduced efficacy of antimuscarinics in treating their urinary symptoms.

Perinatal Major Depression Biomarkers: A systematic review.

Postpartum depression, now termed perinatal depression by the DSM-5, is a clinically relevant disorder reaching 15% of incidence. Although it is quite frequent and associated with high social dysfunction, only recently its underpinning biological pathways have been explored, while multiple and concomitant risk factors have been identified (e.g. psychosocial stress). Peripartum depression usually has its onset during the third trimester of pregnancy or in the postpartum, being one of the most common medical complications in new mothers. Purpose of the present review is to summarize the state of art of biological biomarkers involved in the pathogenesis of perinatal depression, in view of the fact that suboptimal prenatal milieu can induce permanent damage in subsequent offspring life and have a negative impact on mother-child relationship. Furthermore, parents' biological changes due to medical/psychiatric disorders or stress exposure could influence offspring life: a concept known as 'intergenerational transmission', acting by variations into gametes and the gestational uterine environment. Given the evidence that perinatal mental disorders involve risks for the mother and offspring, the search for reliable biomarkers in high-risk mothers actually represents a medical priority to prevent perinatal depression.