Plagiarism and data falsification are the most common reasons for retracted publications in obstetrics and gynaecology.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the number of retracted articles and to examine the reasons for retraction within the obstetrics and gynaecology literature. DESIGN: Retrospective review of the PubMed database. SETTING: N/A. POPULATION: Obstetrics and gynaecology articles published from indexation until June 2018. METHODS: Articles were identified using keywords for retracted articles in obstetrics and gynaecology. Descriptive statistics were performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of article retraction, the reasons given for retraction, and article demographics. RESULTS: A total of 176 articles were identified with a median time to retraction of 2 years; over three-quarters were retracted within the last decade (n = 136; 77.3%). The median journal impact factor was 2.5 (range of 0.26-52.67). Subspecialties with the highest number of retractions were gynaecological oncology (n = 76; 43.2%), gynaecology (n = 36; 20.5%), and obstetrics (n = 31; 17.6%). Among 176 first authors, 18 authors (10.2%) had two or more retracted articles. Clinical research articles accounted for approximately one-half of the retracted articles (n = 87; 49.4%). Among the clinical studies, 10.2% (n = 18) were randomised control trials, 16.5% (n = 29) were prospective trials and 13.1% (n = 23) were retrospective studies. Plagiarism (n = 40; 22.7%) and data falsification (n = 37; 21.0%) were the most common reasons given for retraction. CONCLUSION: Article retraction within the obstetrics and gynaecology literature is increasing. The most frequently cited reasons for article retractions were plagiarism, errors in data, fabricated results, article duplication, and compromised peer review. Consequences of article retractions to patient care and the scientific community can be significant. The thorough screening of manuscripts prior to publication should be prioritised. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: The rate of retraction in obstetrics and gynaecology is increasing; the most common reason for retraction is plagiarism.

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Livebirth and utero-placental insufficiency in Papio hamadryas baboons with uterus angiosome perfused by bilateral utero-ovarian microsurgical anastomoses alone.

STUDY QUESTION: Can the baboon uterus support a gestation to livebirth with an angiosome using microsurgically anastomosed utero-ovarian vessels and lacking uterine arteries and veins? SUMMARY ANSWER: Our angiosome model allows healthy livebirth albeit with risk of fetal growth restriction and stillbirth. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Uterine transplant can provide livebirth in humans, but requires a living donor to undergo a prolonged laparotomy for hysterectomy. In an attempt to avoid the time-consuming dissection of the uterine vein, our group has previously shown maintenance of baboon uterine menstrual function after ligation of the uterine vein and after ligation of both the uterine artery and uterine vein. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: In a 19-month timespan, three baboons underwent laparotomy to surgically alter uterine perfusion, and pregnancy outcomes were monitored after spontaneous mating in a breeding colony. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Three nulligravid female Papio hamadryas baboons in a breeding colony underwent laparotomy to ligate uterine arteries and veins along with colpotomy and cervico-vaginal anastomosis. During the same surgery, the utero-ovarian arteries and veins were microsurgically transected and re-anastomosed to themselves. Intraoperative organ perfusion was confirmed with laser angiography. After a recovery period, monitoring of menstrual cycling via menstrual blood flow and sex-skin cycling occurred, as well as uterine viability via sonography and cervical biopsy. Each baboon was released to the breeding colony for spontaneous mating and pregnancies dated by menstrual calendar and compared with early ultrasound. Delivery outcomes were monitored in each including neonate weight and placental pathology. In the event of a stillbirth, the animal was returned to the breeding colony for repeat mating attempts. After achieving a livebirth, the maternal baboon was removed from the study. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Each baboon in the trial underwent successful surgery with all uteri demonstrating viability and return of menstrual function within 10 weeks of surgery. Pregnancies occurred within two menstrual cycles in breeding colony. Baboons one and two initially had vaginal breech stillbirths, both with appearance of placental insufficiency, and one with fetal growth restriction. Baboon three underwent scheduled cesarean delivery resulting in a normally grown livebirth. Baboon one had a subsequent pregnancy resulting in a livebirth via cesarean delivery. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Stillbirth in two of four gestations, and fetal growth restriction in one of four, are the largest concerns in our perfusion model. It remains uncertain whether the stillbirths resulted from placental insufficiency, or birth trauma from breech deliveries. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The success of two livebirths warrants further attempts at improving consistency of our proposed uterine angiosome. This may allow living uterine donors to undergo less-invasive and shorter donor hysterectomy procedures. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): The study had no external sponsors, and was supported by the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Some equipment was loaned without cost to the research team including a laser angiography system courtesy of Novadaq Technologies, Inc. (Missaugua, ON, Canada) and a surgical microscope courtesy of DB Surgical (Coral Springs, FL, USA). B.B., K.A., M.S., K.R., M.M., P.F.E., A.T. and T.F. have no conflicts of interest. M.L.S. and S.Z. report activity as consultants for Medtronic-Covidien, and S.Z. also is a consultant to Applied Medical.

Endoscopic management of uterine fibroids: an update.

Recent technological advances in endoscopy have allowed gynecological surgeons to expand the operative approaches that can be utilized in the conservative management of uterine myomas. Commonly used approaches in gynecological practice now include laparoscopic myomectomy, laparoscopic-assisted myomectomy through a mini-laparotomy incision and robotic-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy. Adequate preoperative evaluation with careful selection of the best operative approach for each particular patient constitutes the basis of safe and effective surgery for the operative management of uterine myomas.

Post-menopausal endometriosis with inferior vena cava invasion requiring surgical management.

Post-menopausal endometriosis is rare after hysterectomy, and preliminary data support treatment with aromatase inhibitors (AIs). Sites for extrapelvic recurrent disease are wide-ranging; however, no previous case reports have described endometriosis invading the inferior vena cava. A 59-year-old woman status post hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for endometriosis developed a periaortic mass with ureteral obstruction. Computerized tomography-guided biopsy confirmed recurrent endometriosis and the lesion enlarged despite treatment with AIs. Vascular surgery, urology and gynecology were involved. The mass was resected surgically and pathology confirmed invasion of the inferior vena cava. Medical management with AIs can be attempted for extra-pelvic endometriosis status post hysterectomy; however, the efficacy in this setting is limited. Surgical management may be necessary for bulky or invasive disease.

Robotics in reproductive surgery: strengths and limitations.

Minimally invasive surgical techniques are becoming increasingly common in gynecologic surgery. However, traditional laparoscopy can be challenging. A robotic surgical system gives several advantages over traditional laparoscopy and has been incorporated into reproductive gynecological surgeries. The objective of this article is to review recent publications on robotically-assisted laparoscopy for reproductive surgery. Recent clinical research supports robotic surgery as resulting in less post-operative pain, shorter hospital stays, faster return to normal activities, and decreased blood loss. Reproductive outcomes appear similar to alternative approaches. Drawbacks of robotic surgery include longer operating room times, the need for specialized training, and increased cost. Larger prospective studies comparing robotic approaches with laparoscopy and conventional open surgery have been initiated and information regarding long-term outcomes after robotic surgery will be important in determining the ultimate utility of these procedures.

Endometriosis: a critical appraisal of the advances and the controversies of a challenging health problem.

Endometriosis is an enigmatic disorder with obscure pathogenesis. The objective of this review was to critically appraise the recent advances in the etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and clinical management of endometriosis. Several studies support the familial role in the initiation of the disease with key roles of endometriosis-associated polymorphisms in the genes that control fibrinolysis, angiogenesis, steroidogesis, aromatization of androgens, proliferation and cytokine production. Many active substances (cytokines, growth factors, hormones and oxidative stress parameters) have been identified in endometriosis patients at different stages of the disease. In addition to the traditional diagnostic role of ultrasonography and CA 125, evidence is accumulating regarding a potential role sonorectovaginography. Currently the routine use of antiflammatory drugs and birth control pills is not supported by evidence. New protocols of medications incorporation new gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonists with add back therapy, androgenic agents and aromatase inhibitors have been proposed. Prospective randomiazed controlled trials proved that surgical treatment of endometriosis is better than placebo for endometriosis related pain and infertility for patients with stage I and II disease.

Robotics in gynecologic surgery.

Robotic surgery has evolved from an investigational surgical approach to a clinically useful adjunct in multiple surgical specialties over the past decade. Advocates of robotic-assisted gynecologic surgery revere the system's wristed instrumentation, ergonomic positioning, and three-dimensional high-definition vision system as significant improvements over laparoscopic equipment's four degrees of freedom and two-dimensional laparoscope that demand the surgeon stand throughout a procedure. The cost, lack of haptic feedback, and the bulky size of the equipment make robotics less attractive to others. Studies evaluating outcomes in robotic-assisted gynecologic surgery are limited. Multiple small retrospective studies demonstrate the safety and feasibility of robotic hysterectomy. With increased surgeon experience, operative times are similar to, or shorter than, laparoscopic cases. Robotic assistance can facilitate suturing in laparoscopic myomectomies, and is associated with decreased blood loss and a shorter hospital stay, although may require longer operative times. Robotic assistance has also been applied to multiple procedures in the subspecialties of infertility, urogynecology and gynecologic oncology with good success and relatively low morbidity. However, further research is warranted to better evaluate the relative benefits and costs of robotic assisted gynecologic surgery.

Evidence of 'genuine empty follicles' in follicular aspirate: a case report.

Failure to retrieve oocytes after normal ovarian stimulation has been labeled 'empty follicle syndrome' (EFS). The existence of genuine EFS has been questioned and is still controversial. Here, we report an unusual case in which an extraordinary number of empty follicle-like structures were identified in the ovarian aspirate at the time of retrieval. A 31-year-old woman presented with a 4-year history of primary infertility and underwent ovulation induction. The patient was given hCG and oocyte retrieval was performed 36 h later. During the oocyte retrieval, more than 200 tiny structures resembling pre-antral follicles were noted in the ovarian aspirate. They exhibited two to three layers of granulosa cells and appeared to enclose an immature oocyte. They showed a great variation in size ranging between 40 and 80 microm. These structures were further characterized by electron microscopy and cultivated in vitro to assess hormone secretion. The follicles were found to be devoid of oocytes, but each had a readily identifiable zona. Hormone assays revealed that these follicles were secreting increasing levels of estradiol. A second in vitro fertilization attempt gave similar results. These data are suggestive of some failure in the oocyte maturation process. We speculate that this may be the first actual evidence to support the existence of true empty follicles, which if left to grow in vivo might lead to empty graffian follicles and genuine EFS.

The effect of endometriosis on in vitro fertilization outcome.

AIM: Endometriosis is a leading cause of pelvic pain and infertility. Implantation of endometrial cells to the peritoneal surface can lead to a spectrum of disease severity with the most severe causing extensive pelvic adhesions and anatomic distortion. Infertility can result from anatomic abnormalities as well proinflammatory cellular and immune factors. Treatment options for women seeking pregnancy include surgical removal and/or in vitro fertilization. The aim of this study was to review current literature on the pathogenesis of endometriosis and treatment options for infertility. METHODS: Recent published articles regarding infertility and endometriosis have been reviewed analyzing PubMed and Cochrane databases. RESULTS: In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a valid option for patients after surgical management has not restored fertility. IVF may be offered sooner to older patients or to those with more severe disease. It is unclear if prior surgical treatment has deleterious effects on IVF outcomes. It does appear, however, that surgical removal of endometriomas may lead to decreased ovarian reserve. This may not affect fertility outcomes. CONCLUSION: Endometriosis is a leading cause of pelvic pain and infertility. The most accepted theory of how endometriosis develops is the retrograde transplant theory by Sampson, but a constellation of numerous other factors are involved. The gold standard for diagnosis is operative; therefore, the true prevalence of this disease is uncertain. Many women with endometriosis will seek fertility treatment. In this case if endometriosis is found, it should be treated.

Serum and peritoneal abnormalities in endometriosis: potential use as diagnostic markers.

Endometriosis is an ambiguous disease and its exact pathogenesis still remains elusive to clinicians and scientists. Local and systemic aberrations in immune response are associated with endometriosis. This article reviews the literature regarding various immunological factors such as cytokines, growth factors, adhesion molecules and angiogenic factors involved in the etiopathogenesis of this disease. Our review summarizes the literature regarding biomarkers, which may be reliable nonsurgical tools used in the diagnosis of endometriosis. Superior biomarkers characterized by high sensitivity, specificity and predictive value can help in the early detection and monitoring of disease progression as well as its response to therapeutic treatments critical for its management. A combination predictive model utilizing multiple biomarkers rather then individual markers alone is proposed to improve the diagnostic performance for identifying women with a high likelihood of having endometriosis. Immunomodulators and angiogenic factor blockers have a potential for endometriosis treatment and also to alleviate the pain or infertility associated with the disease. Potential new therapeutic agents include modulators, such as cytokine receptor blockers and angiogenic receptor blockers, presently used for treating endometriosis.

Endoscopic management of endometriosis.

Randomized clinical trials in the effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery in the management of endometriosis associated with chronic pelvic pain show a 66% to 80% response rate. There is a 20% to 30% ''placebo'' response rate. The value of surgery for infertile patients with minimal and mild disease is still debated but is most likely small. In advanced disease, surgery clearly improves outcome, although the surgery is more challenging. After an initial unsuccessful surgery for restoration of fertility in patients with advanced endometriosis, in vitro fertilization rather than repeat surgery is more effective. Laparoscopic treatment of endometriomas should be performed by excisional surgery. Drainage and/or medical therapy is associated with a very high recurrence rate. The main concern with excision of endometriomas is the potential to decrease ovarian reserve. Most experts would agree that if there is an endometrioma of 4 cm or greater that a laparoscopic excision be performed before an anticipated in vitro fertilization cycle to decrease the potential risk of infection and improve access to follicle. Surgery for pelvic extragenital disease is challenging. Excision of rectal endometriosis may require disc excision of the nodular lesion or segmental resection. Morbidity of a laparoscopic procedure is similar to laparotomy. Relief of symptoms after laparoscopic bowel surgery is excellent but there are potential complications such as rectovaginal fistula and pelvic abscess. Endo-metriosis of the bladder or ureter typically only involves the overlying peritoneum and can be easily excised by laparoscopy. Excision of deeper lesions of the bladder and ureter require resection. This can be accomplished laparoscopically but requires experience with laparoscopic suturing.

Peritoneal fluid environment in endometriosis. Clinicopathological implications.

Endometriosis is a puzzling disorder with obscure pathogenesis. The objective of this review was to evaluate the complex role of peritoneal fluid in the etiopathogenesis of endometriosis. Several studies suggest that peritoneal fluid is a key inflammatory environment associated with endometriosis. Many active substances (cytokines, growth factors, hormones and oxidative stress parameters) have been identified in endometriosis patients at different stages of the disease. Inflammatory mediators may be involved in the endometriosis associated-infertility and possibly pain. Furthermore, these mediators may represent a non surgical method for diagnosing endometriosis. Better understanding of the mechanism of cytokines, growth factor and reactive oxygen species production and detoxification and further investigation of their effects on the peritoneal fluid environment are essential to obtain new insight into this disease and eventually develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic remedies.

Prediction of endometriosis with serum and peritoneal fluid markers: a prospective controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this prospective controlled trial was to investigate the ability of a group of serum and peritoneal fluid (PF) markers to predict, non-surgically, endometriosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Serum and PF samples were obtained from 130 women while undergoing laparoscopy for pain, infertility, tubal ligation or sterilization reversal. Concentrations of six cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-13 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha] were measured in serum and PF, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in PF, and levels were compared among women who were allocated to groups according to their post-surgical diagnosis. Fifty-six patients were diagnosed with endometriosis, eight with idiopathic infertility, 27 underwent tubal ligation or reanastomosis (control group) and 39 were excluded due to bloody PF. Only serum IL-6 and PF TNF-alpha could be used to discriminate between patients with and without endometriosis with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity (P < 0.001). A threshold of 15 pg/ml PF TNF-alpha provided 100% sensitivity and 89% specificity (positive likelihood ratio of 9.1 and negative likelihood ratio of 0). A threshold of 2 pg/ml for serum IL-6 provided a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 67% (positive likelihood ratio of 2.7 and negative likelihood ratio of 0.14). CONCLUSIONS: By measuring serum IL-6 and PF TNF-alpha, it was possible to discriminate between patients with endometriosis and those without. Before these markers can be used as a non-surgical diagnostic tool, these data should be verified in a larger study.

Assessment of laparoscopic injuries by three methods.

OBJECTIVE: To compare laparoscopic, gross, and fluorescent assessment of laparoscopic pelvic injuries. DESIGN: Experimental prospective study. SETTING: Cleveland Clinic Foundation Animal Research Laboratory, Cleveland, Ohio. ANIMAL(S): Nonpregnant adult female pigs. INTERVENTION(S): Pelvic organs injured with laparoscopic energy sources were assessed laparoscopically, grossly, and with a fluorescent indicator and Wood's lamp. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Three different measurements of each laparoscopic injury. RESULT(S): Assessment of injuries by laparoscopy did not differ significantly from gross assessment of injuries. In the segments of bowel and bladder that were injured with monopolar cautery, the Wood's lamp assessment of the injuries was significantly longer than the laparoscopic assessment of the injuries. CONCLUSION(S): Laparoscopic assessment of injured ureters, bowel, and bladder appear to be similar to gross assessment of these tissues. In tissue where the serosal surface is intact, the use of a fluorescent dye and a Wood's lamp provides a clear margin of the injured tissue.

Robotically assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy and adnexal surgery.

BACKGROUND: In this pilot study, we tested the feasibility and safety of using a robotic device to perform complex gynecologic surgery. METHODS: Ten female pigs underwent adnexal surgery (n = 5) or hysterectomy (n = 5) using the "Zeus" robotic device. The surgeon operates while sitting at the console away from the surgical table on which the robotic arms are fixed. Both procedures were performed solely with the robotic arms. After 1 week of observation the animals were sacrificed and the surgical site was explored. RESULTS: The procedure was completed successfully in all cases. No animal required conversion to laparotomy or nonrobotic laparoscopic assistance. The mean operative time (+/- SD) was 170 +/- 44 min for adnexal surgery and 200 +/- 57 min for hysterectomy. No complications occurred. No ureteral injuries were found on necropsy. CONCLUSION: Although designed for laparoscopic microsuturing, this robotic technology has the potential to be used for more complex gynecologic procedures.