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Topic Review
Laser Treatment for GSM in Breast Cancer Survivors
Breast cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy and endocrine therapy, can cause earlier and more sudden menopausal symptoms. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is one of the most bothersome side effects of breast cancer treatment, resulting in sexual dysfunction and impaired quality of life. The most recent data show the feasibility and safety of vaginal laser to treat GSM for breast cancer survivors. 
  • 596
  • 01 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Congenital Hepatitis C Virus and Fetal Ascites
Perinatal Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) transmission occurs in 4–7% of the cases with detectable viremia at delivery. HCV testing in pregnancy is recommended. The fetal infection was previously described as asymptomatic although there are two cases, including this one, to report the presence of isolated fetal ascites in HCV infected fetuses.
  • 595
  • 21 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Vitamin D and Urogenital Functions in Postmenopausal Women
Recent years have witnessed the emergence of growing evidence concerning vitamin D's potential role in women's health, specifically in postmenopausal women. This evidence also includes its connection to various genitourinary disorders and symptoms. Numerous clinical studies have observed improvements in vulvovaginal symptoms linked to the genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) with vitamin D supplementation. These studies have reported positive effects on various aspects such as vaginal pH, dryness, sexual functioning, reduced libido, and a decrease in urinary tract infections. Many mechanisms underlying these pharmacological effects have since been proposed. Vitamin D receptors (VDRs) have been identified as a major contributor to its effects. It is now well known that VDRs are expressed in the superficial layers of the urogenital organs. Additionally, vitamin D plays a crucial role in supporting immune function and modulating the body's defense mechanisms. However, the characterization of these effects requires more investigation. Reviewing existing evidence regarding vitamin D's impact on post-menopausal women's vaginal, sexual, and urological health is the purpose of this article. As research in this area continues, there is a potential for vitamin D to support women's urogenital and sexual health during the menopausal transition and postmenopausal periods.
  • 595
  • 07 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Bacterial Vaginosis and Post-Operative Pelvic Infections
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) represents a condition in which the normal protective Lactobacilli, especially those that produce H2O2, are replaced by high quantities of facultative anaerobes, leading to gynecologic and obstetric post-operative complications. BV is an important cause of obstetric and gynecological adverse sequelae and it could lead to an increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea, genital herpes, Chlamydia, Trichomonas, and human immunodeficiency virus.
  • 594
  • 12 May 2023
Topic Review
Unmet Goals of Pregnancy and Type 2 Diabetes
The increased frequency of type 2 diabetes worldwide has led to a concomitant increase in pregnancies complicated by type 2 diabetes This is mainly due to two factors: the earlier age of diabetes onset and the advanced age of pregnancy occurrence. Patients with type 2 diabetes in pregnancy show a high frequency of maternal and fetal complications, posing a series of problems in the follow-up of these women.
  • 594
  • 23 May 2023
Topic Review
Estro-Progestins and Pain Relief in Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a benign, hormone-responsive chronic disease that affects women of reproductive age; long-term treatment to balance satisfactory tolerability with clinical efficacy is necessary for these patients. The first-line therapy for endometriosis is predominantly medical treatment, in order to improve symptoms or prevent post-surgical disease recurrence. Multiple factors including age and women preference, pain severity, and endometriosis stage must be considered in the choice of the most suitable therapy. Estrogen-progestogins are generally used as first-line hormone therapies among different medical options currently effective for endometriosis management. Several studies have shown that they are able to improve pain symptoms in most patients, are well tolerated, and are inexpensive. Combined hormonal contraception treatment, administered cyclically or continuously, with different types of hormones and route of administration, results in clinically noticeable decrease in dysmenorrhea, noncyclic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and recurrence rate after surgery, and also in quality of life improvement.
  • 593
  • 29 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Non-Neoplastic Ovarian Masses in Children and Adolescents
Most abdominal masses in the pediatric population derive from the ovaries. Ovarian masses, which include both non-neoplastic lesions and neoplastic tumors, can occur in all ages although their incidence, clinical presentation and histological distribution vary among different age groups. Herein, pediatric non-neoplastic ovarian masses are described. These include benign tumor-like lesions that are not composed of neoplastic cells, such as functional cysts, endometrioma, torsion, abscess and lymphangioma.
  • 593
  • 10 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Contained Power Morcellation in Laparoscopic Uterine Myoma Surgeries
Uterine fibromas are the most common benign uterine tumors. Although the majority of leiomyomas remain asymptomatic, they can cause serious clinical problems, including abnormal uterine bleeding, pelvic pain, and infertility, which require effective gynecological intervention. Depending on the symptoms as well as patients’ preferences, various treatment options are available, such as medical therapy, non-invasive procedures, and surgical methods. Regardless of the extent of the surgery, the preferred option is the laparoscopic approach. To reduce the risk of spreading occult malignancy and myometrial cells associated with fragmentation of the specimen before its removal from the peritoneal cavity, special systems for laparoscopic contained morcellation have been developed.
  • 587
  • 13 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Link between Early Life and Breast Anomalies
Several factors during childhood and adolescence are thought to be associated with the development of proliferative benign breast diseases and breast cancer in adulthood.
  • 584
  • 06 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Adenomyosis and Infertility
Adenomyosis (the presence of ectopic endometrial glands and stroma below the endometrial–myometrial junction) is a benign condition which is increasingly diagnosed in younger women suffering from infertility. Adenomyosis is a common gynecological disorder, affecting women of reproductive age. It negatively affects in vitro fertilization, pregnancy and the live birth rate, as well as increases the risk of miscarriage. With the advent of non-invasive diagnoses with MRI and TVUS, the role of adenomyosis in infertility has been better recognized.
  • 582
  • 31 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Lysinuric Protein Intolerance in Pregnancy
Lysinuric protein intolerance (LPI) is a rare inborn error of metabolism (IEM), classified as an inherited aminoaciduria, caused by mutations in the SLC7A7 gene, leading to a defective cationic amino acid transport. The metabolic adaptations to the demands of pregnancy and delivery cause significant physiological stress, so those patients affected by IEM are at greater risk of decompensation.
  • 579
  • 13 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Circulating miRNAs and Preeclampsia
miRNAs are single-stranded non-coding RNAs, 20–24 nt long, which control mRNA expression. Changes in miRNA expression can induce a variation in the relative mRNA level and influence cellular homeostasis, and the strong presence of miRNAs in all body fluids has made them useful biomarkers of several diseases. Preeclampsia is a multifactorial disease, but the etiopathogenesis remains unclear. The functions of trophoblasts, including differentiation, proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis, are essential for a successful pregnancy.
  • 579
  • 01 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Cancer Tissue-Derived and Peripheral Blood Biomarkers in HGSOC
High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is one of the most lethal tumors generally and the most fatal cancer of the female genital tract. The approved standard therapy consists of surgical cytoreduction and platinum/taxane-based chemotherapy, and of targeted therapy in selected patients. The main therapeutic problem is chemoresistance of recurrent and metastatic HGSOC tumors which results in low survival in the group of FIGO III/IV. Therefore, the prediction and monitoring of chemoresistance seems to be of utmost importance for the improvement of HGSOC management. 
  • 569
  • 18 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Changes in Gut Microbiome and Pathologies in Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a special period in a woman’s life when her organism undergoes multiple physiological changes so that the fetus has optimal conditions for growth and development. These include modifications in the composition of the microbiome that occur between the first and third trimesters of pregnancy. There is an increase in Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, and Firmicutes, which have been associated with an increase in the need for energy storage. The growth in Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria levels has a protective effect on both the mother and the fetus via proinflammatory mechanisms.
  • 568
  • 25 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Diagnosis and Treatment of Fistulae
Gynecological fistulae are a rare but severe complication of radiation therapy, pelvic surgery, prolonged labor, cesarean deliveries, or inflammatory bowel diseases. A gynecological fistula is an abnormal pathway formed between the urinary and gynecological tract, most commonly located between the urinary bladder and vagina. Vesico-uterine and vesicovaginal fistulae are an important health issue, common in women of reproductive age in developing countries with limited access to obstetrical care. Various surgical techniques have been described for vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) repair, depending on the location, severity, and cause of the fistula and the surgeon’s experience.
  • 565
  • 17 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Pre-Pregnancy Obesity on Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism
A higher body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of maternal and perinatal complications.
  • 564
  • 18 May 2023
Topic Review
Effects of Bariatric Surgery on Women during Pregnancy
It has been shown that women with obesity planning pregnancy should reduce their body weight because obesity is a risk factor for adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Bariatric surgery effectively reduces excessive body weight and the health risks in women with obesity during pregnancy and their offspring. However, at least a year interval between surgery and conception is recommended. An interdisciplinary medical team should provide patient care during pregnancy with knowledge and skills related to people after bariatric surgery. Due to the increased risk of mental disorders, especially depression, it is necessary to constantly monitor the mental state of women and provide psychological support and education on a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
  • 564
  • 25 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Placental Hypoxia Biomarkers in Placental Insufficiency Syndromes
Placental hypoxia poses significant risks to both the developing fetus and the mother during pregnancy, underscoring the importance of early detection and monitoring. Effectively identifying placental hypoxia and evaluating the deterioration in placental function requires reliable biomarkers. Molecular biomarkers in placental tissue can only be determined post-delivery and while maternal blood biomarkers can be measured over time, they can merely serve as proxies for placental function. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for non-invasive imaging techniques capable of directly assessing the placental condition over time. Advancements in imaging technologies, including photoacoustic and magnetic resonance imaging, offer promising tools for detecting and monitoring placental hypoxia. Integrating molecular and imaging biomarkers may revolutionize the detection and monitoring of placental hypoxia, improving pregnancy outcomes and reducing long-term health complications. 
  • 553
  • 23 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Pregnancy Arrhythmias
Pregnancy is closely associated with an elevated risk of arrhythmias, constituting the predominant cardiovascular complication during this period. Pregnancy may induce the exacerbation of previously controlled arrhythmias and, in some instances, arrhythmias may present for the first time in pregnancy.
  • 550
  • 20 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Gonadotropin and Ovarian Hormone Monitoring
FSH, estrogen and progesterone testing are widely utilized in clinical practice. Lateral flow assays (LFAs) are cost-effective tools used for diagnosing infectious diseases, pregnancy, and substance testing.
  • 549
  • 20 Oct 2023
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