Closed vs. Open Oocyte Vitrification Methods Are Equally Effective for Blastocyst Embryo Transfers: Prospective Study from a Sibling Oocyte Donation Program.

<b><i>Purpose:</i></b> To assess whether open and closed vitrification protocols are equally effective for sibling-oocyte cycles when performing blastocyst embryo transfers. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> A prospective study was set up comparing the open and the closed vitrification techniques in oocyte recipients sharing sibling oocytes between 2014 and 2016. Sibling oocytes were randomly and equally assigned into the closed group (oocytes vitrified in a closed system) or the open group (oocytes vitrified in an open system). Intracytoplasmic sperm injection was performed on all cases. Embryo transfers were performed on day 5. Power anal…

Operative Hysteroscopy Ten Years' Experience

Low rate of oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in women screened for cervical HPV infection in Southern Italy: A cross-sectional study of 140 immunocompetent subjects.

Even though the natural history of cervical and oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been investigated intensely, the possibility that HPV may infect both sites in the same subject is not well documented. This study investigated the frequency of concurrent oral and cervical HPV infection in southern Italian women, in the light of some selected socio-behavioral variables. One hundred forty women (mean age: 36 years), with known cervical HPV status, were analyzed for oral HPV. Age, smoking/drinking habits, clinical and socio-behavioral history were assessed by personal interviews. Oral mucosal cells were collected by oral brushing and HPV DNA was sought by the use of nested PCR ampli…

Oral human papillomavirus infection in women with cervical HPV infection: new data from an Italian cohort and a metanalysis of the literature.

Summary A key issue in oral HPV infection is whether it can be associated with a genital HPV infection, or whether it can be considered as an independent event. This analysis evaluated the frequency and type-concordance of oral HPV infection in women with cervical HPV infection by means of: (i) a cross-sectional study on a sample (n = 98) of Italian women; and (ii) a literature-based metanalysis, including the experimental study the subject of this Paper and nine other published studies (n = 1017), which also examined the influence of oral sampling procedure (oral brushing vs oral rinse) and HIV status on oral HPV detection. The prevalence of oral HPV infection in the Italian study was 14.3…

Parasitic myomas after laparoscopic surgery: an emerging complication in the use of morcellator? Description of four cases

Objective To report the development of parasitic myomas after the use of a morcellator. Design Retrospective study. Setting Tertiary care referral center for the treatment of benign gynecologic pathologies. Patient(s) Women undergoing surgery for uterine fibroids. Intervention(s) Chart review. Main Outcome Measure(s) Presence of parasitic leiomyomas. Result(s) We identified four cases of parasitic myomas over the 3-year study period. Two out of the four were symptomatic. The prevalence of this complication, considering all women with whom the electric morcellator was used (n = 423) was 0.9% (95% CI, 0.3–2.2%). Considering exclusively the women who underwent myomectomy (n = 321), it was 1.2%…

Penile, Uretral and Seminal Sampling for Diagnosis of Human Papillomavirus Infection in Men.

ABSTRACT Methods that used specimens from three genital sites (penile brushing [PB], urethral brushing [UB], and the retrieval of semen [SE]) from 50 men were examined for human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA detection. The rates of detection by PB, UB, SE, PB and UB, and PB and SE were 88.9%, 50.0%, 33.3%, 100%, and 97.2%, respectively. The use of PB and UB appears to be the most accurate method; as an alternative to UB, the use of SE with PB could be used to improve the rate of HPV DNA detection in men.

Overview of the benefitsand potential issues of the nonavalent HPV vaccine

HPV-related diseases affect anogenital and oropharyngeal regions, heavily affecting the psychosexual dimension of both male and female individuals. HPV vaccination programs based on a bivalent or quadrivalent vaccine have opened broad perspectives for primary prevention. A nonavalent HPV vaccine (9vHPV), covering nine genotypes (HPV6, HPV11, HPV16, HPV18, HPV31, HPV33, HPV45, HPV52, and HPV58), might provide further improvement in terms of direct protection. In the present report, efficacy and safety data from 9vHPV vaccine development programs are examined. Efficacy data come from a pivotal trial, which was conducted among women aged 16–26 years randomly assigned to receive either the 9vHP…

Hysteroscopy for metroplasty of uterine septa: report of 24 cases

Assisted Reproductive Techniques and Risk of Congenital Heart Diseases in Children: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

AbstractInfertility is a growing phenomenon and leads to an increased use of assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs). In recent years, concerns about the safety of these procedures emerged and ARTs were hypothesized to be a risk factor for developing congenital heart diseases (CHDs) in offspring. Our aim is to investigate the association between ART and CHD, specifying results according to various subtypes of defects. We performed a systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis following the PRISMA guidelines. MEDLINE and Google Scholar were searched from January 2011 to May 2022. Data about incidence of CHD in ART were tabulated and extracted from all the studies included. Twenty-four…

Immunogenicity and safety of human papillomavirus-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine administered according to an alternative dosing schedule compared with the standard dosing schedule in healthy women aged 15 to 25 years: results from a randomized study

BACKGROUND: The human papillomavirus (HPV)-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine is immunogenic, has a clinically acceptable safety profile, and prevents incident and persistent HPV-16/18 infection and cervical precancerous lesions. This study (NCT00552279) evaluated the vaccine when administered according to an alternative dosing schedule (0-1-12 months) compared with the standard dosing schedule (0-1-6 months). METHODS: The study was of randomized open design and was conducted at multiple centers in Europe. Healthy women aged 15 to 25 years were randomized (1:1) to receive HPV-16/18 vaccine according to the standard schedule at months 0, 1, and 6 (n = 401) or an alternative schedule at months 0, …

Observational prospective study on Lactobacillus plantarum P 17630 in the prevention of vaginal infections, during and after systemic antibiotic therapy or in women with recurrent vaginal or genitourinary infections

We performed a prospective cohort parallel observational study on the use of Lactobacillus plantarum P 17630 in the prevention of vaginal infections. Eligible were women with a diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (15 days) and documented history of recurrent vaginal infections; and/or cystitis (15 days); and/or treatment with antibiotics for bacterial respiratory tract infections during the week before the study entry. Study subjects were prescribed Lactobacillus plantarum P 17630  100.000.000 UFC one vaginal capsule per day for 6 days, then a capsule per week for 16 weeks. Eligible subjects were enrolled in two parallel cohorts: 85 women using (group A) and 39 not using (group B) Lactobacillu…

The Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale to Evaluate the Cosmetic Outcomes of the Robotic Single-Site Hysterectomy in Endometrial Cancer

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate the cosmetic outcome of robotic single-site hysterectomy (RSSH) in early-stage endometrial cancer.MethodsWe prospectively collected patient demographics, operative times, complications, pathologic results, and length of stay on all patients who underwent RSSH for early-stage endometrial cancer. The Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) was used for the evaluation of the cosmetic outcome.ResultsForty-five patients were included in our study from January 2012 to October 2015. The median age of patients was 63 years (range, 35–84 years), and the median body mass index was 26.5 kg/m2 (range, 18–39 kg/m2). No laparoscopic/laparoto…

Prospective sonographic detection of spina bifida at 11–14 weeks and systematic literature review

Objective: To conduct a literature review to assess the effectiveness of first trimester ultrasonographic markers of spina bifida (SB) integrating data with our prospective experience. Methods: The analysis of the SB cases that we prospectively detected in the first trimester, between January 2012 and February 2014, and a systematic review of all the papers evaluating the effectiveness of SB ultrasonographic markers at 11–14 weeks, namely brain stem diameter (BS), fourth ventricle/intracranial translucency (IT), cisterna magna (CM), brain stem/occipital bone distance (BSOB), the ratio between BS and BSOB. Some studies assess only the effectiveness of IT, others include more parameters, and …

Rome consensus conference - statement; human papilloma virus diseases in males

Background Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a very resistant, ubiquitous virus that can survive in the environment without a host. The decision to analyse HPV-related diseases in males was due to the broad dissemination of the virus, and, above all, by the need to stress the importance of primary and secondary prevention measures (currently available for women exclusively). The objective of the Consensus Conference was to make evidence-based recommendations that were designed to facilitate the adoption of a standard approach in clinical practice in Italy. Methods The Sponsoring Panel put a series of questions to the members of the Scientific Committee who prepared a summary of the currently av…

Histological Analysis of Specimens from Endometrioma Excision Performed by Different Surgeons: Does the Surgeon Matter?

Does Preoperative Treatment with a Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist Improve the Outcome of Endometrial Resection?

Abstract Study Objective. To verify if more favorable long-term results of endometrial resection can be obtained with preoperative gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist treatment. Design. Multicenter, randomized, controlled trial (Canadian Task Force classification I). Setting. Tertiary care academic department. Patients. Sixty-three premenopausal women with established menorrhagia. Intervention. Eight weeks of goserelin depot treatment before endometrial resection or immediate surgery in the early proliferative phase of the cycle. Measurements and Main Results. Variations in menstrual patterns and bleeding scores as well as overall degree of satisfaction with treatment were determi…

The gender gap in the diagnostic-therapeutic journey of the infertile couple

Medical procreation impairs both the biological and psychological lives of couples. However, male and female attitudes to infertility are different and require a different approach during the IVF journey. Thus, the gender impact assessment (GIA) method was used to analyse original studies present in the literature. We found some gender-related differences and, subsequently, possible outcomes of intervention to improve healthy reproduction management and prevent infertility. In particular, it became apparent that there was the need for an in-depth male infertility assessment and a gender-specific follow-up.

HPV genotype prevalence in cytologically abnormal cervical samples from women living in south Italy

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the commonest sexually transmitted infection, and high-risk HPV types are associated with cervical carcinogenesis. This study investigated: the HPV type-specific prevalence in 970 women with an abnormal cytological diagnosis; and the association of HPV infection and cervical disease in a subset of 626 women with a histological diagnosis. HPV-DNA was researched by nested PCR/sequencing and the INNOLiPA HPV Genotyping assay. The data were analysed by the chi-square test (p ? 0.05 significant). Overall, the HPV prevalence was 37.7%; high-risk genotypes were found in 88.5% of women and multiple-type infections in 30.9% of the HPV-positive women. The commo…

Endometrial carcinoma and its precursors: Early detection and treatment

Endometrial carcinoma is the most frequent genital neoplasia in women. Precursors of this condition include endometrial hyperplasia, particularly when cytologic atypia occurs. Among the frequent early clinical manifestations of endometrial carcinoma is abnormal uterine bleeding that must be differentiated from bleeding associated with benign conditions. Early detection of endometrial carcinoma and its precursors in women at risk is the best prophylactic measure in the final therapeutic outcome. In this review, the accuracy of methods of early diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma and its precursors is assessed, in order to provide early therapy and optimum prognosis. The epidemiology of endome…

Hysteroscopic resection of the septum improves the pregnancy rate of women with unexplained infertility: a prospectine controlled trial

Objective: To assess fecundity of infertile women after surgical correction of uterine septum. Design: Prospective controlled trial. Setting: Three academic infertility clinics. Patient(s): Forty-four women affected by septate uterus and otherwise unexplained infertility represented the study group (group A), and 132 women with unexplained infertility were enrolled as control subjects (group B). Intervention(s): Hysteroscopic metroplasty was performed in group A, and group B was managed expectantly. All women were followed-up for 1 year without any other intervention. Main Outcome Measure(s): Fecundity rate was calculated as the number of pregnancies per 100 person-months Result(s): Pregnan…

Hysteroscopy and treatment of uterine polyps.

This article summarizes and analyzes the salient topics on the diagnosis and management of endometrial polyps, focusing on the role of the hysteroscopy. Noninvasive investigations such as transvaginal ultrasonography, with or without the use of three-dimensional ultrasonography (3D US) and contrast techniques, remain the mainstay of first-line investigation. Hysteroscopic resection represents the gold standard minimally invasive treatment for endometrial polyps. It is the most effective management and allows histologic assessment, whereas blind biopsy or curettage have low diagnostic accuracy and should not be performed.

Short-term therapy for recurrent abortion using intravenous immunoglobulins: Results of a double-blind placebo-controlled Italian study

It is still unclear whether i.v. immunoglobulins (Ig) can facilitate the reproductive prognosis of women who have suffered recurrent pregnancy loss. We report the results of a multicentre placebo-controlled study on the effect of Ig administration on pregnancy outcome in 46 women who had suffered at least three recurrent miscarriages. All were screened to exclude chromosomal or Müllerian abnormalities, the presence of antinuclear antibodies, lupus anticoagulant (LA) or elevated titres of anticardiolipin antibodies which may have revealed an underlying autoimmune problem. To avoid a selection bias towards ongoing pregnancies, i.v. Ig or placebo were administered between weeks 5 and 7 of gest…

Diagnosis and treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis: a practical approach

A randomized comparison of endometrial laser intrauterine thermotherapy and hysteroscopic endometrial resection.

Objective To investigate the difference of long-term amenorrhea rate in patients with menorrhagia treated by endometrial laser intrauterine thermal therapy (ELITT), a new nonhysteroscopic endometrial ablation procedure, versus transcervical hysteroscopic endometrial resection (TCRE). Design Randomized clinical study. Healthy volunteers in an academic research environment. Setting Academic teaching hospital. Patient(s) Premenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding. Intervention(s) Fifty-eight patients were treated with the ELITT procedure and 58 patients with TCRE; both groups were treated with GnRH agonists before the procedure. Main outcome measure(s) Bleeding status and patient satis…

Vulvar involvement in pediatric Crohn’s disease: a systematic review

Purpose: The aim of the study is to report a systematic review (from 2000 to 2017) of all pediatric cases of vulvar Crohn’s disease (VCD) and to highlight the key-points for a correct diagnosis and management of this rare condition. Methods: An electronic search using the Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane database and Google Scholar database was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. Results: Twenty pediatric studies and 22 cases of VCD were included for analysis. All the articles reported a single case, except two articles where two cases, respectively, are described. Clinical vulvar examination showed the following main manifestations: vulvar erythema (9/22 cases, 40.9%), vulv…

HPV group- and type-specific concordance in HPV infected sexual couples.

The concordance of human papillomavirus (HPV) groups and types was evaluated in 45 sexual couples with both partners HPV infected, by analyzing cervical samples from women and three genital sites (penile brushing, urethral brushing, and semen) from men. When grouping HPV types, no significant HPV group sharing was found between partners, either considering samples from any male site (concordance: 55.5%; P = 0.11) or from each site (concordance by penile brushing, 37.8%; urethral brushing, 24.5%; semen, 22.3%; P > 0.05). Examining individual HPV types, using samples from any male site, concordance was found in 29 (64.4%; P = 0.036) couples; significant concordance was evident for 16 HPV geno…

Vaccinare per HPV: non solo le adolescenti e non solo profilassi. Review e position paper dell'Italian HPV Study Group (IHSG)

HPV vaccination has been introduced in clinical practice in recent years and represents the most effective strategy of primary prevention of cervical carcinoma and of female genital preneoplastic conditions. One of the major issues of the subject is represented by vaccination coverage of the target population. Since its introduction, HPV vaccine efficacy has been progressively demonstrated also towards extragenital HPV-correlated conditions and in males too. Moreover, even subjects of older age groups or subjects who already had HPV infections have been demonstrated to received benefits from vaccination, due to improvements of their immunological response. Recently, vaccine efficacy has als…

Equivalence of the 3-month and 28-day formulations of triptorelin with regard to achievement and maintenance of medical castration in women with endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims at demonstrating the equivalence of the 28-day and 3-month formulations of triptorelin SR (sustained release) in terms of percentage of patients achieving castration levels of estradiol (<==50 pg/mL) 84 days after treatment initiation. DESIGN: A phase II, prospective, randomized, multicenter, open study was conducted in two parallel groups of women with endometriosis. SETTING: Academic hospitals. PATIENT(S): Seventy-two women with endometriosis. were treated with a single intramuscular injection of 3-month triptorelin SR, and 74 patients were treated with one intramuscular injection of 28-day triptorelin SR every 28 days for 3 months. INTERVENTION(S): As pa…

Gene expression profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in endometriosis identifies genes altered in non-gynaecologic chronic inflammatory diseases

background: Pelvic inflammatory phenomena have been suggested as critical players in the natural history of endometriosis. However, to what extent these events could affect the systemic immunologic status remains to be clarified. Here, we compared the gene expression profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from endometriosis patients in the severe diseased stage with the profile after a conventional surgical treatment for removal of endometriotic lesions and adhesions.   methods: Microarray analysis included four patients suffering from severe endometriosis in which blood samples were obtained few days before the surgical intervention and again 6 months later. Real-time quantitative…

Prevalence of Genital Human Papilloma Virus Infection and Genotypes among Young Women in Sicily, South Italy

Abstract Infection with oncogenic human papilloma virus (HPV) types is a necessary cause of cervical cancer. This study assessed the prevalence of HPV infection and genotypes among 1,006 randomly selected women, ages 18 to 24 years, living in Sicily (south Italy). The overall HPV rate was 24.1% (95% confidence interval, 21.5-26.9). The most frequent types were HPV-16 (4.5%), HPV-53 (2.7%), and HPV-84 (2.6%). The prevalence of vaccine types HPV-6, HPV-11, and HPV-18 was 1.4%, 0.1%, and 1.3%, respectively. Cytologic abnormalities were uncommon (3.1%) and associated with HPV detection (P &amp;lt; 0.0001). The only risk factor for HPV infection was the number of sexual partners (women with 2-3 …

Human papillomavirus infection in couples undergoing in vitro fertilization procedures: impact on reproductive outcomes.

A prospective study was performed to assess the relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in 199 infertile couples and outcome of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). A highly statistically significant correlation between pregnancy loss rate (proportion of pregnancies detected by β-hCG that did not progress beyond 20 weeks) and positive HPV DNA testing in the male partner of infertile couples, compared with HPV negatives, was observed (66.7% vs. 15%).

Endoscopic management of a case of 'complete septate uterus with unilateral haematometra'

Endoscopy and ultrasound was used to diagnose a 13 year old virgin girl who presented with dysmenorrhoea and suspected right side adnexal tumescence. The girl was found to have a complete septate uterus with non-communicating right hemicavity and haematometra, an exceptional type of Mullerian anomaly. After pretreatment with buserelin, hysteroscopic metroplasty was successfully performed.

Small-diameter hysteroscopy with Versapoint versus resectoscopy with a unipolar knife for the treatment of septate uterus: A prospective randomized study

Abstract Study objective To compare 2 procedures for metroplasty: resectoscopy with monopolar knife versus small-diameter hysteroscopy fitted with a Versapoint device. Design Prospective randomized study (Canadian Task Force classification I). Setting Endoscopic gynecology units at tertiary care university hospitals. Patients One hundred-sixty patients with septate uterus and a history of recurrent abortion or primary infertility undergoing hysteroscopic metroplasty from 2001 to 2005. Interventions Hysteroscopic resection of the uterine septum performed with either a 26F resectoscope with unipolar knife (80 women, group A) or a 5-mm diameter hysteroscope with Versapoint device (80 women, gr…

Detection of oncogenic human papillomavirus genotypes on spermatozoa from male partners of infertile couples

Objective To evaluate the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) sperm infection and its correlation with sperm parameters in patients who attended a fertility clinic. Design Cross-sectional clinical study. Setting University-affiliated reproductive medicine clinic. Patient(s) A total of 308 male partners of couples undergoing in vitro fertilization techniques. Intervention(s) Specimens of semen were collected from all patients. Main Outcome Measure(s) Sperm parameters were evaluated according to the World Health Organization manual. The presence of HPV DNA was researched by the combined use of two HPV assays and a highly sensitive nested polymerase chain reaction assay followed by HPV ge…

Role of leuprolide acetate depot in hysteroscopic surgery: a controlled study.

Objective To evaluate leuprolide acetate (LA) depot (Enantone Depot, Takeda, Italy) when administered preoperatively in hysteroscopic surgery. Design Prospective, comparative study. Setting University Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Patients One hundred ninety-three patients (114 pretreated with LA depot and 79 controls) who underwent hysteroscopic surgery for uterine septa (group A), submucous fibroids (group B), and abnormal uterine bleeding (group C). Results In groups B and C there was a significant reduction in the operating time, bleeding during the operation, and the amount of distention medium required after LA depot administration, but no significant differences in surgical fe…

Septate uterus: nosographic overview and endoscopic treatment

To comment on the prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment of the septate uterus, with special reference to hysteroscopic metroplasty and its effect on reproductive outcome, we searched publications in PubMed and Embase. Original articles, meta-analysis, reviews, and opinion articles were selected. The studies suggest that the prevalence of the septate uterus is increased in women with repeated pregnancy loss and infertility. Reliable diagnosis depends on accurate assessment of the uterine fundal contour and uterine cavity by means of magnetic resonance and three-dimensional ultrasound. Pertinent published data comparing pregnancy outcome before and after hysteroscopic metroplasty indicated a m…

Efficacy of the support in medically-assisted procreation: an inter-institutional path

The study refers to a research project related to PhD course in “Health Promotion and Cognitive Sciences”, Department of Psychological, Educational Sciences and Human Movement of the University of Palermo. In particular, this research focuses on one specific supportive care treatment direct to parents who are facing pregnancy at risk also of preterm birth, in a longitudinal perspective (from prenatal to neonatal). The study, which is currently in a start-up phase, will involve 100 couples recruited from a Medically Assisted Procreation Service which are at risk of preterm birth and/or which are living a diagnosis of foetal malformations or genetic syndromes. These conditions, once considere…

HPV Vaccination: The Position Paper of the Italian Society of Colposcopy and Cervico-Vaginal Pathology (SICPCV)

Human papillomavirus (HPV) related cervical cancer represents an issue of public health priority. The World Health Organization recommended the introduction of HPV vaccination in all national public programs. In Europe, vaccines against HPV have been available since 2006. In Italy, vaccination is recommended and has been freely offered to all young girls aged 11 years since 2008. Three prophylactic HPV vaccines are available against high- and low-risk genotypes. The quadrivalent vaccine contains protein antigens for HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18. The bivalent vaccine includes antigens for HPV 16 and 18. The nonavalent vaccine was introduced in 2014, and it targets HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 4…

Prevalence of cervical human papillomavirus infection and types among women immigrated to Sicily, Italy.

We determined the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) cervical infection and HPV genotypes among 115 women immigrating to Sicily (Italy), with regard to abnormal cytology and socio-behavioral characteristics in a cross-sectional, observational study. Information was collected with the help of cultural mediators/translators. HPV-DNA was assayed by the INNOLiPA HPV assay and a nested PCR/sequencing method. Sixty (52.2%) women came from sub-Saharan Africa and 55 (47.8%) from Eastern Europe. HPV infection was found in 55 (47.8%) women. The most frequent types were the oncogenic types HPV-16 (7.8%), HPV-18 and 51 (6.0% each), HPV-52 (5.2%), 31, 53, and 68 (4.3% each). Twenty-seven (23.5%) w…

Potential impact of a nonavalent HPV vaccine on HPV related low-and high-grade cervical intraepithelial lesions: A referral hospital-based study in Sicily

ABSTRACT While bivalent and quadrivalent HPV vaccines have been used for about 10 years, a nonavalent vaccine against HPV types 6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52 and 58 has been recently approved by FDA and EMA and is now commercially available. The objective of our study was to evaluate the potential impact of the nonavalent vaccine on HPV infection and related low- and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL, HSIL), compared to the impact of the quadrivalent vaccine, in a female population living in Sicily (Italy). Low estimates of HPV vaccine impact were calculated as prevalence of HPV 6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52 and 58 genotypes, alone or in association, but excluding presence of other HPV ty…