Uterine artery ligation at the beginning of total laparoscopic hysterectomy reduces total blood loss and operation duration.

The purpose of this study was to compare the feasibility, blood loss, duration of surgery and complications between patients in whom both uterine arteries were ligated by surgical clips and cut using a 5-mm ligature at the beginning of total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) and patients in whom uterine arteries were not ligated at the beginning of TLH. In our prospective study, a total of 60 women underwent TLH. Uterine artery ligation (UAL) was done at the beginning of the procedure. Women were divided into TLH + UAL (n = 30) and TLH (n = 30) groups. In TLH group, TLH was done without ligating the uterine arteries at the beginning of the procedure. In TLH + UAL group, TLH was done with ligation of both uterine arteries at the beginning of the procedure. The mean operating time was longer for the TLH group (99.16 ± 7.01) than TLH + UAL group (63.27 ± 7.16). The median total blood loss was higher in TLH group (109.38 ± 33.03 mL) than TLH + UAL group (47.50 ± 8.12 mL). UAL at the beginning of TLH is a technically feasible procedure. It reduces the total blood loss and decreases the time taken for the procedure and length of hospital stay.

Effects of tamoxifen on tissue nitrite/nitrate levels and plasma lipid peroxidation in female rats.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: The effects of tamoxifen on lipid peroxidation and oxidant-antioxidant balance in an animal model were studied. METHODS: Twelve female adult rats were divided into two groups and DMSO and tamoxifen dissolved in DMSO were administered. Tissues taken from the brain, liver and ovary of rats were dissected. MDA, nitrite, nitrate levels and plasma LDL oxidation in brain, ovary and liver tissues were measured and compared. RESULTS: Induced LDL MDA levels were significantly lower in the tamoxifen group (p = 0.009). MDA levels in the liver were significantly lower in the tamoxifen group whereas nitrite levels were found significantly higher (p < 0.05). Brain and ovarian tissues demonstrated no significant difference with respect to MDA, nitrite and nitrate levels. CONCLUSION: Tamoxifen has no negative effects on lipid peroxidation in an animal model.

Vaginal fluid pH, cervicovaginitis and cervical length in pregnancy.

AIM: The purpose of this prospective study was to determine the possible association among vaginal fluid pH, cervicovaginitis and cervical length in singleton pregnancies at 16-22 weeks of gestation. METHODS: A total of 240 asymptomatic singleton pregnancies at 16-22 weeks of gestation were included to the study. Vaginal fluid pH was determined using pH paper in a sterile speculum examination, and cervical length was examined by transvaginal ultrasonographic measurement. Vaginitis was diagnosed by pH determination and wet mount smear; cervicitis was diagnosed by cervical examination. Patients were followed to delivery and hospital records were reviewed to extract obstetric information. Preterm delivery was defined as delivery at or prior to 36 weeks of gestation. Abnormal pH was defined as a pH of > 5.0. Patients with cervicovaginitis (n = 72) were compared with those without any trace of infection (n = 60). RESULTS: The mean gestational age was 20.3 +/- 1.4. We found an significant association among cervicovaginitis, cervical length and vaginal pH. There was a significant correlation between an elevated vaginal pH (> 5.0) and a shortened cervical length (r = -0.59, p < 0.001). Vaginal fluid pH > 5.0 was associated with increased risk of preterm delivery (OR 4.3, 95% CI 2.0, 9.3; p = 0.001) as well as delivering an infant of less than 2,500 g (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.4, 11.0; p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated vaginal fluid pH in women at 16-22 weeks of gestation seems to be associated with a decreased cervical length and increased risk of preterm delivery.

Retrospective analysis of hysteroscopic findings in breast cancer patients having adjuvant tamoxifen treatment.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: To evaluate the effects of tamoxifen on the endometrium of breast cancer patients by hysteroscopy and endometrial sampling. METHODS: Thirty-seven breast cancer patients using tamoxifen underwent hysteroscopy because of postmenopausal endometrial thickening or abnormal uterine bleeding. Hysteroscopic findings were compared with histopathology and ultrasonographic measurement of the endometrium. RESULTS: Nineteen women showed endometrial abnormalities (51%) out of 37 patients. Negative and positive predictive values for hysteroscopy in detecting endometrial abnormalities were 100% and 94%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Endometrial surveillance is an important part of gynecological follow-up in breast cancer patients using tamoxifen and the liberal use of hysteroscopy aids in the diagnosis of abnormal endometrium.

Immunohistochemical expressions of p16 and p53 proteins in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and in benign cervical tissue.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: To evaluate the immunohistochemical expressions of p16 and p53 in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and do a comparison with non-neoplastic cervical lesions. METHODS: Sixty cases diagnosed as CIN after histopathological examination and 25 controls diagnosed as chronic cervicitis were included in the study. Immunohistochemical expressions for p16 and p53 were evaluated and compared in all cases. The cases in the study were defined according to the Bethesda system. Of these, 31.8% (n = 27) had a low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LGSIL), and 38.8% (n = 33) had a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HGSIL). RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between chronic cervicitis and CIN in terms of p53 and p16 expression levels (p = 0.001). On the other hand, the level of p16 expression was statistically different between LGSIL and HGSIL (p = 0.001), while there was no significant difference in terms of p53 expression. Among the HGSIL cases (n = 33), 91% had p16 expression, while 66.7% (n = 27) of the LGSIL patients had no p16 expression. In the chronic cervicitis group, 84% (n = 21) did not reveal any p16 expression, while 96% (n = 24) did not reveal any p53 expression. Various levels of p53 expressions were detected in 59.2% (n = 16) of CIN1 cases, 69.3% (n = 9) of CIN2 cases, and 90% (n = 18) of CIN3 cases. CONCLUSION: While p16 is useful in detecting high-grade cervical lesions, p53 is not a good biomarker for distinguishing high-grade lesions from low grade ones.

Reproductive outcomes after hysteroscopic metroplasty for uterine septum.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: To evaluate reproductive outcome after hysteroscopic metroplasty. METHODS: We analyzed the reproductive outcome of 30 patients with different degrees of septate uterus undergoing hysteroscopic metroplasty. In all cases the procedure was performed by resectoscope. RESULTS: The patients had a total 74 pregnancies before metroplasty. Of these, ten (14%) were carried to term, six (8%) ended in preterm delivery, and 58 (78%) ended in spontaneous abortion. At least one year following hysteroscopic metroplasty a total of 20 pregnancies occurred. Of these, 11 (55%) were carried to term, two (10%) ended in preterm delivery, seven (35%) ended in spontaneous abortion. CONCLUSION: Correction of uterine septum significantly improves the prognosis of the pregnancies in patients with a history of severe obstetric problems. These results are similar to the results reported in the literature. Our data analysis suggests that hysteroscopic metroplasty for uterine septum improves pregnancy outcome of patients who come to us with a desire to conceive.

Pelvic actinomycosis in a postmenopausal patient with systemic lupus erythematosus mimicking ovarian malignancy: case report and review of the literature.

Pelvic actinomycosis is a chronic granulomatous suppurative disease caused by an anaerobic gram-positive organism Actinomyces israelii usually associated with intrauterine devices. Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disorder associated with multiple primary and drug-related immunological defects that predispose patients to infections. The combination of both diseases in a postmenopausal patient is a rare occurrence. A case of a pelvic mass in a 49-year-old postmenopausal patient with systemic lupus erythematosus treated with immunosuppressive therapy for two years is presented. The patient presented with lower abdominal pain to the gynecology clinic and was found to have a pelvic tumor. She had no history of intrauterine device use. Histopathologic examination of the laparotomy specimen revealed pelvic actinomycosis.

MDR1 gene expression in endometrial carcinoma.

The objective of the present study was to determine the MDR1 gene expression in endometrial cancer. Twenty-six newly diagnosed patients with endometrial carcinoma were included in this study. Patients were treated with surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. Four- to six-micrometer sections of the archival paraffin-embedded blocks were cut, deparaffinized, and stained by immunohistochemical technique using P-glycoprotein dye. Endothelial cell staining was used as the positive control of the dye. Immunostaining was categorized from 0% to 100% based on the percentage of cells stained by examining 3-4 high-power fields. The mean P-glycoprotein immunoreactivity for the whole study group was 17 +/- 25% (0-90). Tauhe mean P-glycoprotein immunoreactivity was 21 +/- 26% (0-90) for the endometrioid histology and 6 +/- 13% (0-30) for the clear cell histology. P-glycoprotein immunoreactivity was not detected in a case of mucinous histologic subtype. There was a significant negative correlation between age and P-glycoprotein immunoreactivity (r = -0.530, P = 0.005). The P-glycoprotein immunoreactivity was found to be 30% positive in only one case of clear cell histologic type out of five. However, P-glycoprotein immunoreactivity was not significantly lower in clear cell histologic subtype compared with endometrioid subtype of endometrial cancer (P = 0.116). P-glycoprotein immunoreactivity was found to be 0% in grade 1 (n = 2), 22 +/- 28% in grade 2 (n = 17), and 8 +/- 14% in grade 3 (n = 7) patients (P = 0.273). Premenopausal patients were found to have a significantly higher P-glycoprotein expression (40 +/- 33)% vs. 11 +/- 20%, P = 0.04). P-glycoprotein immunoreactivity was found to be less with advanced age in endometrial carcinoma. However, premenopausal patients were found to have a significantly higher P-glycoprotein expression.

Preoperative and postoperative correlation of histopathological findings in cases of endometrial hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the preoperative and postoperative correlation of histopathological findings in cases of endometrial hyperplasia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and three patients with endometrial hyperplasia detected by surgical curettage performed due to various gynecologic pathologies were treated by hysterectomy. We compared retrospectively the histopathological diagnoses found on curettage with those found on hysterectomy specimens. The classification scheme endorsed by the International Society of Gynecological Pathologists was used to classify the endometrial hyperplasia. The histologic findings found on the endometrial tissue of curettage specimens were correlated with those from hysterectomy specimens. Histopathologic evaluation was performed by a single skilled gynecologic pathologist. RESULTS: A total number of 103 women--76 (73.8%) premenopausal and 27 (26.2%) postmenopausal--were determined to have endometrial hyperplasia on histopathological evaluation of endometrial tissues obtained by endometrial curettage performed for evaluation of various bleeding abnormalities. These included 94 patients with simple hyperplasia without atypia (91.3%), two patients with simple hyperplasia with atypia (1.9%), five patients with complex hyperplasia without atypia (4.9%), and two patients with complex hyperplasia with atypia (1.9%). Histopathological evaluation of endometrial tissue obtained from hysterectomy specimens (of patients diagnosed with hyperplasia on curettage) revealed a total number of 65 cases (63.1%) with endometrial hyperplasia, and 38 cases (36.9%) with various histopathological findings. The correlation between preoperative and postoperative endometrial histologic findings was found to be statistically insignificant (r = 0.105, p = 0.29). Among 94 patients who were found to have simple hyperplasia without atypia on curettage specimens, 55.3%, were found to have simple hyperplasia without atypia, 1.1% simple hyperplasia with atypia, 5.3% complex hyperplasia without atypia, 9.6% secretory endometrium, 4.3% proliferative endometrium, 21.3% disorganized proliferative endometrium, 1.1% corpus luteum persistency, 1.1% basal endometrium, and 1.1% endometrium cancer on final hysterectomy specimens. CONCLUSION: Postoperative diagnosis of endometrial pathology might be different from that of preoperative especially in cases with simple endometrial hyperplasia without atypia.

Ovarian cysts in postmenopausal tamoxifen-treated breast cancer patients with endometrial thickening detected by transvaginal sonography.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequency of ovarian cysts in tamoxifen-treated postmenopausal breast cancer patients with endometrial thickening detected by transvaginal sonography. METHODS: Medical records and transvaginal sonographies of 38 postmenopausal women treated for breast cancer with adjuvant tamoxifen therapy who had undergone endometrial sampling due to abnormal endometrial thickness were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: During the study period five of 38 tamoxifen-treated postmenopausal patients (13.2%) had ovarian cysts. The mean tamoxifen treatment interval of the patients with an ovarian cyst was 22.4 +/- 18.4 months (p = 0.17). The mean endometrial thickness of the patients with an ovarian cyst was 12.6 +/- 5.9 mm (p = 0.17). Endometrial biopsy detected six cases of abnormal endometria, including endometrial carcinoma (n = 1), endometrial polyp (n = 1) and simple endometrial hyperplasia without atypia (n = 4). Three patients with ovarian cysts underwent laparatomy revealing simple cysts on histopathological examination. Two patients with ovarian cysts declined laparatomy and are currently under follow-up. CONCLUSION: Ovarian cysts a common side-effect of tamoxifen treatment in postmenopausal tamoxifen-treated breast cancer patients. Transvaginal sonography should be performed to detect any concomitant endometrial pathology.

Distribution of fibronectin, laminin and collagen type IV in the materno-fetal boundary zone of the developing mouse placenta. Experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to demonstrate the distribution of extracellular matrix components of fibronectin, laminin and collagen type IV in the materno-fetal boundary zone of the developing mouse placenta. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Mice fetuses and placentas were removed serially every day until the 19th gestational day. Implantation sites were processed and stained by an immunohistochemical method by specific antiserums to fibronectin, laminin and collagen type IV. The distribution of the extracellular matrix components in cytotrophoblasts and giant cells of the developing mouse placenta were determined under light microscope. RESULTS: Fibronectin, laminin and collagen type IV immunostaining demonstrated a dynamic relationship changing day by day after the conception. At the 16th day cytotrophoblasts and giant cells were all positively stained by the extracellular matrix components. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the regions of the developing mouse placenta produce specialized extracellular matrices which may contain different ratios of these polypeptides.

Effects of sequential combined transdermal and oral hormone replacement therapies on serum lipid and lipoproteins in postmenopausal women.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of sequential combined transdermal and oral postmenopausal hormone replacement therapies on serum lipid-lipoprotein profiles risk markers for cardiovascular disease. A prospective randomize study was designed: Ninety-six healthy nonhysterectomised postmenopausal women were randomized to receive either transdermal continuous 17beta-estradiol, 0.05 mg/d (Estraderm TTS, Novartis, Basel, Switzerland), with transdermal sequential norethisterone acetate, 0.25 mg/d (Estragest TTS, Novartis, Basel, Switzerland), or oral continuous conjugated equine estrogens, 0.625 mg/d (Premarin 0.625 mg, Wyeth, Philadelphia, U.S.A.), with oral sequential medroxyprogesterone acetate, 10 mg/d (Farlutal 5 mg, Deva, Istanbul, Turkey). 84 women completed the trial, 42 in oral and 42 in the transdermal group. The serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoproteins AI and apolipoproteins B at 6 months after starting treatment were compared with baseline values for both therapies. Both oral and transdermal therapies significantly reduced serum levels of total cholesterol (208-190 mg/dL and 216-199 mg/dL, respectively, p=0.0001) and LDL-cholesterol (128-112 mg/dL and 140-127 mg/dL, respectively, p=0.001). The serum levels of triglycerides did not show any significant change with oral therapy, whereas this lipid fell (128-101 mg/dL, p=0.0001) significantly with transdermal therapy. We found significant decrease in HDL-cholesterol with transdermal therapy while there was no significant change with oral therapy. Apolipoproteins AI, the major protein component of HDL2 subfraction, was increased by oral therapy and lowered by transdermal therapy. As a conclusion, we have found that serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were lowered by both therapies, with no significant differences between treatments, whereas there were significant differences between treatments according to effects on serum triglycerides and apolipoproteins AI.

Comparison of short and long ovulation induction protocols used in ART applications according to the ovarian response and outcome of pregnancy.

This retrospective study was designed to determine whether there is any difference between short and long protocol ovulation induction with Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone agonist (GnRHa) and gonadotropins used in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) applications according to the number of retrieved oocytes, oocyte maturity, fertilization rates, embryo quality and the outcome of pregnancies. 240 cycles consisting of in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles without andrologic factor and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles were evaluated. 112 cycles which were induced by short protocol GnRHa and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) + Human Menopausal Gonadotropin (HMG) combinations and 128 cycles which were induced by long protocol GnRHa and FSH + HMG combinations were compared according to the number of retrieved oocytes, cancellation rate of cycles, oocyte maturity, fertilization rates, embryo quality and pregnancy rates. The cancellation rate for short protocol cycles were found to be significantly higher than those with long protocol. The number of retrieved oocytes, mature oocytes and fertilized oocytes were also found significantly lower. The quality of embryos did not show any significant difference between these groups. The clinical pregnancy rates were evidently found to be high in the long protocol cycles. As a conclusion we have found that while the number of retrieved oocytes, mature oocytes, fertilized oocytes and clinical pregnancy rates were increasing, the cancellation rate of cycles were decreasing significantly in ART cycles induced by long protocol.

Successful pregnancy in an infertile woman with endometrial hyperplasia and embryo transfer. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Successful pregnancy in a woman with complex endometrial hyperplasia with atypia was treated conservatively with gestagens. CASE: The patient was initially diagnosed with complex hyperplasia of the endometrium with atypia by endometrial curettage and treated with several cycles of different gestagens. After repeated endometrial curettage, in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer were introduced for immediate treatment of the patient's infertility in order to avoid the risk of recurrent hyperplasia of the endometrium from estrogens. A single pregnancy was achieved after transfer of embryos obtained from intracytoplasmic sperm injection. This was performed due to poor semen characteristics. The patient delivered a normal, healthy male infant at term. CONCLUSION: Conservative treatment of complex endometrial hyperplasia with atypia in young women wishing to preserve fertility should be considered in carefully selected cases.

Mammographic density changes during different postmenopausal hormone replacement therapies.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the degree of change in mammographic breast densities during different types of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapies. DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: Ege University Hospital. PATIENT(S): The mammographies of 216 women on various postmenopausal hormone replacement therapies were evaluated. INTERVENTION(S): Estrogen alone (n = 76) or estrogen in cyclic (n = 44) or continuous (n = 61) combination with progestin or tibolone-only (n = 35) replacement therapies were used. Mammographic density was quantified according to the Wolfe classification in patients with different hormone replacement regimens. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Mammographic density changes were interpreted. RESULT(S): An increase in mammographic density was much more common among women receiving continuous combination hormone replacement therapy 31.1% (19 of 61) than among those receiving estrogen-only 3.9% (3 of 76) treatment. There were no significant mammographic breast density changes among women receiving cyclic continuous combination hormone replacement therapy or tibolone-only treatment. The increase in density was apparent already at first visit after the start of hormone replacement therapy. In continuous combined postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy with norethisterone acetate, the increase in mammographic density was 34.1% (15 of 44), followed by medroxyprogesterone acetate 23.5% (4 of 17). CONCLUSION(S): Our findings show that mammographic breast density changes related to postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy are dependent on the selected hormone regimen. The continuous administration of the progestin component of the combined-hormone replacement therapy seems to effect the breast density most.