Corrigendum to "Inositol and In Vitro Fertilization with Embryo Transfer".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2017/5469409.].

Inositol and In Vitro Fertilization with Embryo Transfer.

Recently, studies on inositol supplementation during in vitro fertilization program (IVF) have gained particular importance due to the effect of this molecule on reducing insulin resistance improving ovarian function, oocyte quality, and embryo and pregnancy rates and reducing gonadotropin amount during stimulation. Inositol and its isoforms, especially myoinositol (MYO), are often used as prestimulation therapy in infertile patients undergoing IVF cycle. Inositol supplementation started three months before ovarian stimulation, resulting in significant improvements in hormonal responses, reducing the amount of FSH necessary for optimal follicle development and serum levels of 17beta-estradiol measured the day of hCG injection. As shown by growing number of trials, MYO supplementation improves oocyte quality by reducing the number of degenerated and immature oocytes, in this way increasing the quality of embryos produced. Inositol can also improve the quality of sperm parameters in those patients affected by oligoasthenoteratozoospermia.

Robotic single-site hysterectomy: feasibility, learning curve and surgical outcome.

BACKGROUND: The field of laparoscopy has undergone several changes to improve the morbidity and cosmesis of laparoscopic surgery. The robotic single-site surgery is the inevitable hybridization of robotic technology with laparoendoscopic single-site surgery. METHODS: Perioperative information of 12 robotic single-site hysterectomies (R-SSH) were collected to evaluate the surgical feasibility and the possible influence of the body mass index (BMI) and the uterine weight on operative times. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 85 ± 33 min (range, 355 to 149 min), the mean docking time was 9 ± 3 min, and the mean console time was 76 ± 33 min. The mean blood loss was 80 ± 18 mL, and the median weight of resected uteri was 220 ± 45 g. No serious postoperative complications occurred. The CUSUM learning curve was observed to consist of two different phases: phase 1 (the initial 6 cases) and phase 2 (the last 6 cases) with significant reduction in operative and console time observed between the two phases. For BMI, no correlation was found with operative times, console times, and docking times, and no correlation was found between uterine weight and operative time. CONCLUSIONS: This series, identifying two different phases of the learning curve and suggesting that the initial learning phase for the procedure can be achieved after six cases, confirms the feasibility and safety of a robotic approach for single-site hysterectomy. However, the limits of this study mainly rely on the limited casuistic and short follow-up, although the preliminary results appear promising. Larger series and prospective studies comparing R-SSH hysterectomy with standard robotic multiport hysterectomy are necessary to define properly the role of this innovative surgical technique.

Endocrine and clinical effects of myo-inositol administration in polycystic ovary syndrome. A randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects the administration of myo-inositol (MYO) on hormonal parameters in a group of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. DESIGN: Controlled clinical study. SETTING: PCOS patients in a clinical research environment. PATIENTS: 50 overweight PCOS patients were enrolled after informed consent. INTERVENTIONS: All patients underwent hormonal evaluations and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) before and after 12 weeks of therapy (Group A (n»10): MYO 2 g plus folic acid 200 mg every day; Group B (n»10): folic acid 200 mg every day). Ultrasound examinations and Ferriman-Gallwey score were also performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Plasma LH, FSH, PRL, E2, 17OHP, A, T, glucose, insulin, C peptide concentrations, BMI, HOMA index and glucose-to-insulin ratio. RESULTS: After 12 weeks of MYO administration plasma LH, PRL, T, insulin levels and LH/FSH resulted significantly reduced. Insulin sensitivity, expressed as glucose-to-insulin ratio and HOMA index resulted significantly improved after 12 weeks of treatment. Menstrual cyclicity was restored in all amenorrheic and oligomenorrheic subjects. No changes occurred in the patients treated with folic acid. CONCLUSIONS: MYO administration improves reproductive axis functioning in PCOS patients reducing the hyperinsulinemic state that affects LH secretion.

Fertility and endocrine outcome after robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy (RALM).

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic myomectomy has recently gained wide acceptance but this procedure remains technically highly demanding and concerns have been raised about the increased blood loss and an higher risk of postoperative uterine rupture of the pregnant uterus. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the fertility and endocrine outcome in women underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy (RALM). METHODS: Data from 48 RALM performed in our department between the years 2007 and 2011 have been collected. Conception rate, abortion rate, incidence of feto-maternal morbidity or severe pregnancy and labor-related complications were reported; FSH and AMH levels and ultrasound valuation of AFC has been made before and 6 months after operation. Number of cesarean sections and vaginal deliveries were described. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 35 years and median Body Mass Index was 23 kg/m(2) (range 18-35 kg/m(2)). Seven women (13%) became pregnant after RALM with eight pregnancies. One pregnancy is actually on going; there were six deliveries with caesarian section and one spontaneous delivery. No spontaneous abortions. No uterine ruptures occurred. No significant modification of ovarian function was found after myomectomy. CONCLUSION: RALM seems to have a favorable impact on the reproductive outcome of young patients with no impact on the ovarian function.

Best methods for identification and treatment of PCOS.

The polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) includes a wide spectrum of clinical symptoms and signs. Three different diagnostic classifications have been proposed to define this disease. The first one, published in 1990, known as the "NIH criteria" requires the simultaneous presence of hyperandrogenism and menstrual dysfunction in order to diagnose PCOS. Later on, in 2003, an expert panel met in Rotterdam and added to the previous criteria the presence of polycystic ovarian morphology detected by transvaginal ultrasonography. The later classification broadened the spectrum of PCOS and also included women with oligomenorrhea and PCO without hyperandrogenism or hyperandrogenism and PCO without menstrual dysfunction. Finally, the Androgen Excess Society, published in 2006 new diagnostic criteria which required the presence of clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism, with either PCO or menstrual dysfunction to diagnose PCOS. This review focuses on the diagnostic techniques and methods of treatment for PCOS patients. Special attention is given to the role of insulin resistance and the potential utility of insulin sensitizers in management of the syndrome. The benefit and utmost importance of lifestyle modification for the long-term health of these women is stressed as well. It is hoped that some clarity in this regard will allow more women to not only be diagnosed and managed properly for their presenting symptoms (hirsutism, irregular menses, etc.), but also to be educated and managed for the continuing health risk of insulin resistance throughout their lives.

Brain derived neurotrophic factor circulating levels in patients undergoing IVF.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to measure circulating BDNF levels, a neurotrophin recently identified in the ovary, in parallel with estradiol, to verify if assessing this factor could add any predictive value to the outcome of in vitro fertilization. METHODS: Blood sampling for BDNF and estradiol was performed in 23 subjects undergoing IVF on day 1 (D1), day 8 (D8), day of HCG administration (DHCG) and day of oocyte retrieval.(DOR). RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between BDNF and estradiol throughout the stimulation cycle in all subjects. In both pregnant and nonpregnant patients, the values of BDNF grew significantly only between D8 and DHCG and remained constant until DOR. Between-group comparisons showed no statistically significant differences in both BDNF and estradiol values throughout the IVF cycle. CONCLUSION: Although BDNF plasma concentrations are not seemingly predictive of IVF outcome, this neurotrophin is highly correlated to estradiol levels and seems to be an important factor especially in the periovulatory period.

[Assessment of primary renal lymphoma with computerized tomography]. / Valutazione dei linfomi renali primitivi con Tomografia Computerizzata.

Renal involvement during lymphoma can be extrinsic, i.e., renal compression or displacement due to lymph node masses, or intrinsic, i.e., parenchymal involvement secondary to blood or lymphatic spread, or primary, as initial neoplastic site. Primary renal lymphoma is very rare (3% of all renal lymphomas) for the absence of lymphatic tissue in the kidney. The disease might be due to parapyelic lymph nodes or to blood spreading from an unknown site. In our study we reviewed the CT findings of five cases of primary non-Hodgkin's renal lymphoma with surgical or histologic confirmation. Renal alterations due to lymphomatous involvement were classified according to macroscopic pathologic findings: type I (single nodular disease, 2 patients), type II (multinodular disease, 1 patient), and type III (infiltrating disease with retroperitoneal involvement, 2 patients). In the two patients with single nodular involvement (type I), CT showed a solid, hypodense and clear-cut nodule. In the only patient with multinodular disease (type II), renal tissue was replaced by multiple hypodense nodular masses, which were partially confluent. In the two infiltrating forms with retroperitoneal involvement (type III), renal structure was diffusely disorganized, with thickening of soft tissues and perirenal fasciae, peripyelic infiltration and, in one case, urinary tract obstruction. To conclude, CT always allowed the accurate assessment of the presence, site and size of renal lesions and of perirenal and urinary involvement. However, CT findings were completely aspecific, not allowing an unquestionable differential diagnosis with other conditions, e.g., hypernephroma, transitional cell carcinoma, metastatic lesions or chronic inflammations. Therefore, a biopsy specimen is necessary to make an unquestionable diagnosis.