Subfertility in women with familial Mediterranean fever.

AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the causes and different modalities used for management of subfertile patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study comprised of 74 infertile women with FMF. All patients were diagnosed as having FMF. All patients underwent a full infertility work-up. They were scheduled to expectant treatment, ovulation induction and timed intercourse, intrauterine insemination or intracytoplasmic sperm injection. RESULTS: Anovulation was reported in 18 patients (24.32%). Anovulation was due to polycystic ovary syndrome in 12 (16.22%) cases and due to other causes in six patients (8.11%). Excessive clear peritoneal fluid was present in 56 (57.67%) and male-factor infertility was present in 14 couples (18.91%). Ovulation induction and timed intercourse was adopted for a maximum of six cycles and intrauterine insemination for three cycles. In vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection was needed in six cases using standard long agonist protocol. Twenty-six women became pregnant. CONCLUSION: The causes of infertility in patients with FMF are not different from those expected in the general population. Treatment of the problem should be causal, adopting the conventional lines of treatment up to in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection when appropriate. Colchicine is the treatment of choice and it is important to use it in its proper doses to control the disease.

Anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibody as a new treatment of endometriosis.

Many pro-inflammatory cytokines especially tumor necrotic factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin (IL)-1ß, and IL-6 have crucial role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. In this study, we investigated the immune-modulatory role of humanized anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of endometriosis. This is a prospective, randomized, controlled, blinded study in which Sprague Dawley rats were used as animal model of endometriosis. Animals were randomly divided into two groups, a test group which received tocilizumab (Actemra; Roche, Switzerland) and a control group which received saline. Afterwards, a comparison was done between the eutopic and ectopic endometrium that was excised from both groups, histopathologically and immune-histochemically. Histopathologic assessment and immune-histochemical staining were performed using antibodies against IL-6. Tocilizumab significantly suppressed the volume of endometriotic lesions compared with non-treated rats (P = 0.006) and atrophied the ectopic endometrial-like epithelium (in 42.8% of treated rats vs 0% in the control group). Tocilizumab also decreased the anti-IL-6 receptor immune-histochemical staining intensity in ectopic endometrium (from non to +++ in the test group vs ++ or more in the control group), with no apparent difference in the eutopic one reflecting the down-regulation of IL-6-producing cells in ectopic endometriotic lesions. In rats with induced endometriosis, anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibodies could offer a new horizon of usage of this immune-modulatory biologic drug, used in other autoimmune diseases, in treatment of endometriosis.

Pressure-Controlled Ventilation with Volume Guarantee Compared to Volume-Controlled Ventilation with Equal Ratio in Obese Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Hysterectomy.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic hysterectomy operations especially for obese patients necessitate Trendelenburg position and pneumoperitoneum with carbon dioxide, which could affect cardiac and pulmonary functions. The present study aimed to compare the impact of pressure-controlled ventilation with volume-guaranteed (PCV-VG) and volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) with equal ratio ventilation (ERV), i.e., I: E ratio of 1:1 on hemodynamics, respiratory mechanics, and oxygenation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty females with body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m2 and with physical status American Society of Anesthesiologists Classes I and II undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy were allocated randomly to either PCV-VG (Group P) or VCV with ERV (Group V). The ventilation parameters, hemodynamics, and arterial blood gases (ABGs) analysis were recorded at four times: (T1): after the anesthetic induction while in supine position by 10 min, (T2 and T3): after the CO2 pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg positioning by 30 and 60 min, respectively, and (T4): after desufflation and resuming the supine position. RESULTS: The peak inspiratory pressure in Group P recorded significant lower values than in Group V while the dynamic compliance was greater significantly in Group P than in Group V. No significant differences were reported as regards the ABG analysis, oxygenation, and hemodynamic data between both groups. CONCLUSION: In obese females undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy surgeries, PCV-VG was superior to VCV with ERV as it provided higher dynamic compliance and lower peak inspiratory pressure that could be preferable, especially in those patients in whom cardiopulmonary function could be more susceptible to impairment.

LNG-IUS treatment of non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia in perimenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) and oral norethisterone acetate (NET) for treatment of non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia in perimenopausal women. METHODS: One hundred and twenty perimenopausal women with non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia were selected in this randomized controlled trial. Patients received LNG-IUS (n=59) or NET (n=61; 15 mg/day for 3 weeks/cycle) for 3-6 months. Outpatient follow-up with endometrial biopsies were undertaken at 3, 6, and 12 months intervals after treatment. Outcome measures were; the regression rate, the time to regression and hysterectomy rate. RESULTS: A significantly higher regression rate was noted in the LNG-IUS group than in NET group at the 3rd, 6th and 12th month follow-up visits using intention-to-treat analysis (67.8% vs. 47.5%, relative risk [RR], 1.42; 79.7% vs. 60.7%, RR, 1.31; and 88.1% vs. 55.7%, RR, 1.58, respectively). However, no significant difference was found regarding the median time to regression (3 months). The hysterectomy rate during the follow-up period was significantly higher in the NET group (57.4% vs.22%, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: LNG-IUS treatment of non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia in perimenopausal women is more effective than NET for achieving disease regression for the majority within 1 year. Moreover, it can reduce the number of hysterectomies performed.

Predictors of postpartum depression in a sample of Egyptian women.

INTRODUCTION: Postpartum depression (PPD) represents a considerable health problem affecting women and their families. The aims of this study were to: (a) compare female patients with PPD to normal controls with regard to some biopsychosocial variables, (b) correlate between the severity of PPD and some clinical and biological variables, and (c) to predict some risk factors for PPD. METHOD: Sixty female patients with PPD were compared with 60 healthy postpartum females (control group). Patient and controls were subjected to: (1) a complete psychiatric and obstetric examination, (2) psychometric studies using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Fahmy and El-Sherbini's Social Classification Scale for Egyptian socioeconomic classification and Horowitz et al's Impact of Event Scale, (3) quantities of thyroid hormone (T3), cortisol hormone, and estrogen were assessed. RESULTS: There were high statistical differences between PPD females and controls as regard psychosocial stressors, level of (estradiol, thyroxin [T3], and cortisol), marital status, residence, parity, method of delivery, complicated puerperium, positive history of premenstrual tension syndrome and baby variables (eg, unwelcomed, with a negative attitude of parents toward the baby, underweight, female, artificially feeding, unhealthy baby). While there were moderate statistical differences in attitude toward spouse and social support and mild statistical difference in socioeconomic status between them. Severity of depression is positively highly correlated with onset of depression, psychosocial stress, levels of T3 and cortisol. However, severity of depression is negatively high when correlated with socioeconomic status. Stepwise linear regression indicated that PPD was significantly predicted by social support, socioeconomic status, feeding of baby, and prior psychiatric problems. CONCLUSION: Many factors may lead to development of PPD. These factors include some psychosocial, socioeconomic, obstetric, and hormonal variables. Early detection of these factors could help in prediction of the development of PPD.