Does pelvic floor muscle training abolish symptoms of urinary incontinence? A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether symptoms of urinary incontinence is reduced by pelvic floor muscle training, to determine whether urinary incontinence can be totally eliminated by strengthening the pelvic floor muscle to grade 5 on the Oxford scale. DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled clinical trial. SETTING: Outpatient urogynecology department. SUBJECTS: One hundred thirty cases with stress and mixed urinary incontinence. INTERVENTION: All participants were randomly allocated to the pelvic floor muscle training group or control group. A 12-week home based exercise program, prescribed individually, was performed by the pelvic floor muscle training group. MAIN MEASURES: Urinary incontinence symptoms (Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7, Urogenital Distress Inventory-6, bladder diary, stop test and pad test) were assessed, and the pelvic floor muscle strength was measured for (PERFECT testing, perineometric and ultrasound) all participants before and after 12 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: The pelvic floor muscle training group had significant improvement in their symptoms of urinary incontinence (P=0.001) and an increase in pelvic floor muscle strength (P=0.001, by the dependent t test) compared with the control group. All the symptoms of urinary incontinence were significantly decreased in the patients that had reached pelvic floor muscle strength of grade 5 and continued the pelvic floor muscle training (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that pelvic floor muscle training is effective in reducing the symptoms of stress and mixed urinary incontinence and in increasing pelvic floor muscle strength.

Does raloxifene therapy affect mammographic breast cancer screening in postmenopausal patients?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine mammographic breast density changes during raloxifene therapy in postmenopausal patients MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-five cases who were using raloxifen therapy were included in this retrospective analysis. Raloxifene was given for osteopenia and osteoporosis according to low bone mineral density measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). None of the patients were using hormone replacement therapy 12 months before the initiation of raloxifene treatment or during the study. Mammographic breast density was determined by mammography before the initiation of raloxifene treatment (baseline) and after 12 to 16 months of therapy. The Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) breast density score was used for the evaluation of mammographic density. RESULTS: There was no change in mammographic breast density when the baseline and the first mammography taken after the initiation of therapy were compared (p = 0.32). There was no significant correlation between the duration of raloxifene treatment and mammographic density measured after raloxifene treatment (r = -0.158, p = 0.25). Only in one patient did the BI-RADS classification of 2 change to 3 after 12 months of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, raloxifene therapy for 12 to 16 months does not increase mammographic breast density in postmenopausal women with low bone mass.

How can we predict ureteral obstruction after gynecological surgery? The changes in Doppler resistive index and plasma creatinine and magnesium concentrations after surgical, unilateral ureteral obstruction in a rabbit model.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the changes in Doppler resistive index (RI) and plasma creatinine and magnesium concentrations after unilateral ureteral obstruction in a rabbit model. Fourteen adult female rabbits were used in this study. In seven rabbits, the left ureter was ligated with silk suture, and the control group was sham operated. Before surgery and on the second and seventh days after surgery, blood samples were obtained to measure plasma creatinine and magnesium concentrations. Doppler RIs of both kidneys were also measured before surgery and on the second and seventh days after the surgical procedure. With regard to magnesium levels, there was a significant within-subjects sessions difference [F(2, 20) = 15.21, P= 0.001] indicating a decrease through sessions. Magnesium concentrations decreased significantly at the postoperative second and seventh days compared to preoperative baseline levels (P= 0.003 and P= 0.001, respectively). Multifactorial analysis of variance was applied for each session separately with laterality, and groups as factors. The Doppler RI and the creatinine level did not show any significant differences or interactions for all sessions (P > 0.05). The decreasing plasma magnesium concentration after surgery may indicate ureteral injury; however, Doppler studies and creatinine levels may not be useful as well.

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.

Maternal and perinatal outcomes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus as compared to nondiabetic controls.

OBJECTIVE: To determine maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus as compared to nondiabetic pregnancies matched on the basis of age and parity and to study the association between different treatment regimens and fetal outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: The records of 128 consecutive pregnancies complicated with gestational diabetes mellitus and 138 nondiabetic controls matched on the basis of age and parity were studied. Patients with gestational diabetes mellitus were treated either with diet only or diet in combination with insulin. Data were collected from medical records of the patients and birth records of the newborns. RESULTS: Despite treatment, the gestational diabetes mellitus group had a significantly higher frequency of cesarean section, preterm delivery and admission to a neonatal unit (P < .05). Preterm delivery and admission to a neonatal unit were significantly higher in the gestational diabetics treated with diet plus insulin as compared to the diet-only group (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus are associated with a higher frequency of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, and adverse outcomes seems to be more frequent in patients treated with diet plus insulin.

Metabolic effects associated with high-dose continuous megestrol acetate administration in the treatment of endometrial pathology.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the metabolic effects and efficacy of high-dose continuous megestrol acetate administration in the treatment of endometrial pathology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 27 women with histologically proven endometrial pathology (endometrial hyperplasia and irregularly proliferative endometrium) were treated with megestrol acetate orally 160 mg/d given once-a-day for 3 months. In 5 of 27 patients the dose of megestrol acetate was increased to 320 mg/d to alleviate irregular uterine bleeding. Serum lipid profiles and fasting and 2-h postprandial serum glucose levels were studied at baseline and one week after the therapy was completed. RESULTS: HDL-cholesterol level significantly lowered from a mean of 50.4+/-11.1 mg/dL to 44.4+/-8.5 mg/dL after 3 months of megestrol acetate therapy (p<0.05). Serum total cholesterol level significantly lowered from a mean of 222.8+/-50.0 mg/dL to 192.7+/-36.5 mg/dL (p<0.05) and apolipoprotein A-I level from a median of 134 mg/dL to 116 mg/dL (p<0.05) after the therapy. Serum LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, apolipoprotein B, fasting and 2-h postprandial glucose levels did not significantly change after the therapy (p>0.05). The median weight of patients was found to be 70 (53-110) kg before the therapy and 74 (56-111) kg after the therapy (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The use of megestrol acetate, 160-320 mg/d, in the treatment of endometrial pathology is an effective method without marked harmful effects on serum lipid profiles or glucose levels but is associated with weight gain.

Giant myoma and erythrocytosis syndrome.

The objective of this study is to discuss the myomatous erythrocytosis syndrome in a patient with a giant subserous uterine myoma. She presented with plethora and an abdominal mass. After venesection of 4 units of blood, the preoperative haematocrit value of 53.3% and haemoglobin value of 17.5 g/dL had decreased to 48.6% and 16.8 g/dL levels, respectively. After the operative extraction of the giant subserous myoma with attached uterus weighing 14.2 kg, the haematocrit and the haemoglobin values had regressed to 40.3% and 14.3 g/dL levels, respectively. The findings indicated that the giant subserous myoma was the cause of the myomatous erythrocytosis syndrome in this patient.

Prenatal sonographic detection of nasopharyngeal teratoma.

We present the case of a 34-year-old pregnant woman who had an elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein level and sonographic findings of a semisolid mass protruding from the fetus's oral cavity. The large, heterogeneous mass filled the oropharynx and nasopharynx. Abnormal Doppler waveforms were detected in the umbilical artery of the fetus, who died in utero. Postmortem examination revealed a nasopharyngeal teratoma.