Proteomic characterization of the qualitative and quantitative differences in cervical mucus composition during the menstrual cycle.

The chemical composition of the cervical mucus (CM), its physical characteristics and the volume of secretion change cyclically throughout the menstrual cycle. The aim of this study was to identify the constitutive protein composition of CM of fertile women and the changes in the CM proteome throughout the menstrual cycle. Five fertile women who had a term delivery within 1 year before the study were enrolled. Proteomic analysis was performed using an Ultimate 3000 Nano/Micro-HPLC apparatus equipped with an FLM-3000-Flow manager module and coupled with an LTQ Orbitrap XL hybrid mass spectrometer; bioinformatic software was used for functional and quantitative analysis. 59, 81 and 43 proteins (mean) were respectively identified in the pre-ovulatory, ovulatory and post-ovulatory samples. 38 common proteins were identified. 42, 38 and 17 exclusive proteins were respectively identified in pre-ovulatory, ovulatory and post-ovulatory CM. The main part of CM constituents has a catalytic activity, which is mainly related to hydrolase activity. The label-free quantitative analysis of the common proteins revealed a significant reduction in the protein abundance index for antileukoproteinase, after the ovulation, and a peak of haptoglobin at ovulation. This is the first application of high-resolution MS-based proteomics for the identification of protein constituents of CM. This approach may contribute to the identification of putative biomarkers of the female reproductive tract.

Male fertility and reduction in semen parameters: a single tertiary-care center experience.

Background. Infertility is both a clinical and a public problem, affecting the life of the couple, the healthcare services, and social environment. Standard semen analysis is the surrogate measure of male fertility in clinical practice. Objective. To provide information about the relationship between semen parameters and spontaneous conception. Methods. We evaluated retrospectively 453 pregnancies that occurred among 2935 infertile couples evaluated at an infertility clinic of a tertiary-care university hospital, between 2004 and 2009. Results. Normal semen analysis was present only in 158 patients; 295 subfertile patients showed alterations in at least one seminal parameter. A reduction in all seminal parameters was observed in 41 patients. Etiological causes of male infertility were identified in 314 patients. Conclusion. Our data highlights the possibility of a spontaneous conception with semen parameters below WHO reference values. Therefore, we support the importance of defining reference values on a population of fertile men. Finally, we analyzed the related ethical issues.

[Role of a mini-invasive approach in the diagnosis and treatment of tubo-peritoneal infertility as an altenative to IVF]. / Il ruolo di un approccio chirurgico mini-invasivo nello diagnosi e trattamento della sterilità tubo-peritoneale in alternativa alla FIVET.

AIM: Tubal factor infertility accounts for approximately 25-35% of cases of female infertility. Identifiable causes of tubal infertility are postinfectious tubal damage, postsurgical adhesion formation, and endometriosis-related adhesions. Aim of this study was to evaluate the results of a diagnostic/therapeutic minimally invasive approach in patients with suspect or ascertained mechanical infertility in terms of obtained pregnancies. METHODS: The study enrolled 143 patients who underwent diagnostic or operative laparoscopy, with chromopertubation, peritoneal or endometrial culture, salpingoscopy when indicated and diagnostic or operative hysteroscopy. Nine patients with submucous-intramural or multiple intramural fibroids underwent miomectomy by minilaparotomy following hysteroscopy and chromopertubation. Patients were contacted periodically by telephone to monitor the onset and outcome of pregnancy. The mean length of follow- up was 49 months (range: 11 to 118 months). RESULTS: Of the 152 patients considered in the study, 61 became pregnant (40%). Twenty-three pregnancies resulted in miscarriage, two in tubal pregnancy and one patient aborted after a diagnosis of Down syndrome. In total, 32% of the patients achieved a term pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic/therapeutic mini-invasive approach allows women to become pregnant naturally and it is, therefore, an option for couples with ethical and religious concerns. The percentage of pregnancies is higher than after in-vitro fertilization. When efficacious, this approach allows additional spontaneous conceptions without renewed therapy and the course of pregnancy and the type of delivery will not differ from those in a normal population.

Challenge tests in the diagnosis of latex allergy.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and safety of challenge tests and their usefulness in the diagnosis of latex allergy. Forty adult subjects (F/M = 34/6, aged 18-66 yrs) with a history of adverse reactions after latex exposure and positive prick test and/or specific IgE to latex were enrolled. They were compared with 20 control subjects. They underwent provocative (cutaneous, mucous-oral, sublingual, conjunctival, nasal, bronchial, vaginal) tests. Symptoms and drug scores were recorded for each patient during challenges. All patients reacted to at least one of the following: cutaneous, nasal and conjunctival tests. No systemic reactions requiring epinephrine occurred. Of the challenges, the vaginal test resulted as the safest, but it had low sensitivity and many limits related to the procedure. According to our data, bronchial and nasal tests had the highest sensitivity (76% and 82% respectively), and were more precise than other tests in determining latex exposure and symptoms, but the bronchial test also presented the highest rate of risk. Mucous and cutaneous tests resulted as the most reliable. For all the tests, specificity and positive predictive value were 100%. All control subjects resulted negative to all challenges. There were no statistically significant changes in skin and serologic tests between the first and second visits. Correlations between MIS and skin tests and between MIS and serum tests were not found. Challenges can be considered safe diagnostic procedures. Tests that most faithfully reproduce natural exposure, on the basis of a patient's history, are preferable.

[Urinary tract infections: risk factors and therapeutic trends]. / Infezioni urinarie: fattori di rischio ed orientamenti terapeutici.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are very common in medical practice. Women have a high prevalence of UTIs, approximately 50 times higher than men. A large proportion of this prevalence is probably caused by anatomic and physical factors Chemical analysis of urine composition, examination of the urinary sediment and the bacterial colony counts are of great value for diagnosis and therapy. The patients may be benefit from antibiotic doses. In addition to trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ), amoxicillin and cephalosporins, the authors observed a new drug: fluoroquinolones. These drugs derived by nalidixic acid and included: ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, lomefloxacin, norfloxacin, pefloxacin and rufloxacin. They are sinergistic against most Gram positives and negatives including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis. Fluoroquinolone is an antibacterial agent that is effective in treating urinary tract infections. It is usually administered orally and is well absorbed after oral ingestion. Quinolones are preferable to TMP/SMZ because of their greater antibacterial activity that occurred in about 82% of women. A dose of quinolones (400 mg daily for 3 days) has been particularly effective in the treatment of UTIs. The amoxicillin-clavulanic acid can be used for treatment even if increased antibiotic resistance. The efficacy, relative safety and low cost of quinolones predispose to utilize its like the first treatment choice.

[Mycotic vulvovaginitis]. / Vulvovaginiti micotiche.

Vulvovaginitis is the most common clinical manifestation of fungal infections causing human mycoses; the incidence occurs in 10% of women, during pregnancy the incidence achieves 30% of cases. Candida albicans has resulted to be the most commonly isolated agent in patients with fungemia. In fact, Candida appears to be the species recovered in as many as 90% of cases. They are mainly the sexual activity, hormonal contraception and several pathologies such as diabetes mellitus and thyroiditis responsible for the pathogenesis of infection. The first symptom of this infection is usually pruritus associated to leukorrhea, dyspareunia and vulvovaginal irritation. Antifungal therapy may be required in more severe cases of vulvovaginal candidiasis. Candida species can be identified on isolation culture media including agar and on direct examination. Diagnosis can also be made through san immunologic examination. However, the authors confirm that the risk factors together with a correct diagnosis of the Candida etiological agent in the different species (albicans, glabrata, tropicalis, krusei) should be accurately investigated in order to give the correct therapeutical approach.

[Treatment in the event of antibiotic prophylaxis failure in gynecologic surgery. A retrospective study of 20 cases]. / Sul trattamento in caso di fallimento dell'antibiotico-profilassi in chirurgia ginecologica. Esame retrospettivo di 20 casi.

A retrospective study was performed of the type of treatment used in 20 patients undergoing gynecological surgery in whom antibiotic prophylaxis with Mezlocillin (2 g i.v.) had failed. Patients were subdivided into three groups: A) Initial therapy with Mezlocillin (8 patients, 2 g/die i.m.) or Cefotetan (2 patients, 2 g/die i.m.) and subsequent addition of Gentamicin (8 patients, 240 mg/die i.m.) or Tobramycin (2 patients, 200 mg/die i.m.) and subsequently Metronidazole (7 patients, 1.5 g/die per os). B) Therapy with Imipenem/Cilastatin (6 patients, 1.5 g/die i.m.). C) Therapy with Imipenem/Cilastatin (4 patients, 1.5 g/die i.m.) after a variety of antibiotics: Cotrimoxazole (Trimethoprim 160 mg/die and sulphamethoxazole 800 mg/die per os), Pefloxacin (800 mg/die per os), Cefotetan (2 g/die i.m.) and Mezlocillin (2 g/die i.m.). Time taken to lower temperature was shorter in Group B (3.5 days) compared to Group A (6.8 days) and Group C (10 days). Postoperative hospital stay was also shorter in Group B (9 days) compared to Group C (16.5 days) and Group A (11.1 days). The immediate administration of an antibiotic active against Gram+ and Gram- germs, aerobes and anaerobes is therefore useful in the event of failure of antibiotic prophylaxis, rather than the use in succession of associations of antibiotics with a limited spectrum.