Determinants of percent mammographic density in women with premature ovarian insufficiency.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the determinants of breast density in women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of 163 women with POI undergoing mammography, percent mammographic density (PMD) was evaluated by digitizing the image. PMD was correlated with age, age at menarche, age at POI, time since POI, body mass index (BMI), gestational history and hormone therapy (HT) use (duration, dose, regimen). RESULTS: POI was diagnosed at a mean age of 32.3 ± 5.9 years. The mean age of the women at mammography was 41.3 ± 5.4 years; mean BMI was 27.4 ± 5.4 kg/m2 and mean PMD was 24.3 ± 18.5. Mean PMD did not differ between the different age groups evaluated (29-39, 40-49 and 50-55 years) or between users and non-users of HT. Mean duration of HT use was 5.6 ± 4.7 years. PMD was higher in nulligravidas compared to women who had been pregnant (p = 0.0016); however, POI occurred earlier in nulligravidas (p < 0.0001). PMD correlated negatively with BMI (r = -0.27; p = 0.0005). CONCLUSION: In women with POI, HT use had no effect on PMD, irrespective of the duration of use, dose or regimen. Pregnancy and BMI were consistently associated with PMD, with density being greater in nulligravidas and in women with lower BMI.

Gestational trophoblastic disease in Campinas, Brazil and persistency predictors.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of the gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) and to evaluate the risk factors for persistence of the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study with 152 women diagnosed with GTD at University of Campinas from 2006 to 2013. Frequencies, average, and standard deviation were evaluated for each variable and an exact Fisher test was utilized to study persistent disease risk factors. RESULTS: The women were on average 25.81 ± 8.02 years old. The most prevalent blood type was O positive (49.6%). The diagnosis of complete mole was found in 64.8%, followed by partial mole in 32%, and choriocarcinoma in 3%. Complete mole developed invasive mole in 12.3%, the same occurred with 7.5% of the partial moles. No significant association was found between age, number of gestations, race, BMI or blood type and persistent mole. CONCLUSION: The complete mole is the most fre- quent GTD, and is at high risk for developing malignant forms.

GAPO syndrome: a new syndromic cause of premature ovarian insufficiency.

Premature ovarian insufficiency has the following causes: genetic, autoimmune, metabolic, infectious, and iatrogenic dysfunctions (including radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery). However, premature ovarian insufficiency remains without a definite cause in a substantial number of cases. This article describes GAPO syndrome in association with premature ovarian insufficiency, as well as a novel ANTXR1 gene mutation. Histopathological study of the ovaries of a woman with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism revealed extensive deposition of hyaline extracellular material, with bilateral parenchymal atrophy and follicular depletion. Molecular study revealed a novel ANTXR1 gene mutation. The homozygous c.378 + 3A > G transition at the consensus donor splice site of intron 4 was identified. Our results support the involvement of ANTRX1 gene mutations in deregulated extracellular matrix. In addition, our study identified a novel ANTXR1 mutation causing GAPO syndrome, indicating it as a new cause of early loss of ovarian function.

Dyspareunia and lubrication in premature ovarian failure using hormonal therapy and vaginal health.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate vaginal microbiological and functional aspects in women with and without premature ovarian failure (POF) and the relationship with sexual function. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 36 women with POF under hormonal therapy who were age-matched with 36 women with normal gonadal function. The vaginal tropism was assessed through hormonal vaginal cytology, vaginal pH and vaginal health index (VHI). Vaginal flora were assessed by the amine test, bacterioscopy and culture for fungi. Sexual function was evaluated through the questionnaire Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). RESULTS: Women in both groups were of similar age and showed similar marital status. The two groups presented vaginal tropic scores according to the VHI but the tropism was worse among women in the POF group. No difference was observed with respect to hormonal cytology and pH. Vaginal flora was similar in both groups. Women with POF showed worse sexual performance with more pain and poorer lubrication than women in the control group. The VHI, the only parameter evaluated showing statistical difference between the groups, did not correlate with the domains of pain and lubrication in the FSFI questionnaire. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the use of systemic estrogen among women with POF is not enough to improve complaints of lubrication and pain despite conferring similar tropism and vaginal flora. Other therapeutic options need to be evaluated.

[Chronic brain edema in neurocysticercosis]. / Edema cerebral crônico na neurocisticercose.

In a retrospective study, we report the clinical characteristics of chronic brain oedema (CBO) in 34 patients with neurocysticercosis (NCC) who presented diffuse brain oedema upon computed tomography (CT) as a common point. All patients received dextrochlorpheniramine, and, 94.1% of them also albendazole. A predominance of females (73.5%) aged 11-40 years (92.3%) was seen. Headache occurred in 94.1% of patients, nausea/vomiting in 47.1%, epileptic manifestations in 41.1% and psychiatric disorders in 38.2%. Hyperreflexia was obtained in 82.3% of patients, papilloedema in 58.8% and normal neurological examination in 11.8%. The CT scan of the brain showed an association of oedema with calcifications in 61.8% of cases. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure was higher before than after treatment (p < 0.05). At the last visit, 79.4% of patients were currently asymptomatic (57.1% of them without medication). It is pointed out that CBO may be an antigenic manifestation in NCC without the concomitant presence of parasitic cysts and may represent an additional clinical condition associated with benign intracranial hypertension.