To evaluate the role of vaginal fractional CO2 laser treatment in the relief of Overactive Bladder (OAB) symptoms in post-menopausal women.
Post-menopausal women who complained of one or more ...symptoms related to vulvo-vaginal atrophy (VVA), who experienced symptoms of OAB and who underwent vaginal treatment with fractional CO2 laser were enrolled in the study. At baseline (T0) and 30 days post-treatment T1), vaginal status (using Vaginal Health Index - VHI), subjective intensity of VVA symptoms (using a visual analog scale - VAS) and micturition diary were evaluated. OAB symptoms were also assessed using a validated questionnaire.
Thirty patients were enrolled. A statistically significant improvement in VVA symptoms was observed and in VHI at T1 (p < 0.0001). A significant improvement was also identified in the micturition diary, in number of urge episodes and OAB-q (p < 0.0001). Nine of the 30 patients suffered from incontinence episodes and had improved at T1.
We showed that fractionated CO2 laser vaginal treatment has proved to be effective in improving OAB symptoms in post-menopausal women. Moreover, it is a safe and efficacious measure for the relief of VVA related conditions. Further long-term studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results.
The apical prolapse has always been considered the most complex of the defects of the pelvic floor, for both the difficulty of the surgical corrective technique and for the high post-surgical ...recurrence rate. Today, the laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy can be considered the standard treatment for apical prolapse. In the last years, several author performed robotic sacrocolpopexy, obtaining positive results. So, we developed a casecontrol study in order to compare the surgical outcome of robotic group with a control group of laparoscopic approach in patients with symptomatic apical pro-lapsed between January 2015 and December 2015 at University Hospital Policlinico "P. Giaccone" and Ospedali Riuniti "Villa Sofia-Cervello", Palermo. Our experience shows that robotic sacrocolpopexy can be considered in positive way for clinical results obtained: all procedures were executed with no complications, we noted a lower intraoperative blood loss and a shorter hospital stay than in laparoscopic group. Although the mean operative time and the economic costs are higher in robotic surgery, this study demonstrates that the use of robotic platform for repairing of symptomatic apical vaginal prolapse is feasible, safe and associated with short-term satisfactory results, representing therefore a valid alternative to laparoscopic approach.
To report the incidence and the major risk factors (RFs) associated with preterm birth (PTB), combining both maternal RFs and cervical length (CL), and to understand if cervical length measurement is ...really useful in all the patients.
The study population consisted of 2048 women admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Messina, over a 2-year period. Preterm cases represented approximately 8.64% of our total population and, exactly, 65% were late preterm, 32% were preterm, and 3% were extremely preterm.
An analysis of PTB sub-categories based on gestational age showed a stronger correlation between gestational age and CL among preterm and extremely preterm, while no correlation was found among late preterm. Between preterm cases and controls, there was a significant difference in pre-pregnancy weight and Body Mass Index (BMI). Moreover, a significant association between PTB and uterine anomalies, poli-oligodramnios and hypertension was found.
We strongly suggest adding a transvaginal ultrasound CL universal screening to all pregnant women at the time of the second trimester ultrasound. We encourage further studies to identify new RFs of PTB and to define the mechanisms by which risk factors are related to PTB.
To understand the role of fetal spine position in determining a fetal head position at the time of birth and modality of delivery.
This was a multicenter prospective observational study. Fetal ...occiput and spine position were evaluated by intrapartum ultrasound. Eighty-six women were eligible for inclusion in the study. Occiput rotational movements and modality of delivery in relation to the fetal spine position were investigated.
At the beginning of labor, fetal occiput was in a posterior position in 52.3% of cases and, in 81.5% of cases the spine was in an anterior transverse position. At birth, occiput and spine were both in an anterior position in 90.4% of cases. The rate of cesarean sections in the SP group was significantly higher than the rate in the SAT group (50% vs. 8%, p < 0.0007). Instead, the rate of vaginal deliveries without intervention in the SP group was significantly lower than the rate in the SA group (14% vs. 71%, p < 0.0001).
Fetal spine position could have an important role in determining fetal occiput position at birth. Spine position might play a crucial role in the outcome of delivery.
A study on the effect of rearing system on tissue composition of principal joints and chemical–physical traits of meat and subcutaneous fat, was carried out on a local pig breed. A total of 78 Nero ...Siciliano pigs was used; 41 pigs were reared in woods, 37 pigs were reared in pens and fed a commercial diet. Weight at slaughter was 101.9 and 88.2 kg for indoor and outdoor pigs, respectively. Means were estimated at 77 kg of live weight. At ham dissection outdoor-pigs showed higher percentages of lean (58% vs. 55%) and lower subcutaneous fat (31% vs. 34%). In
Longissimus lumborum outdoor-pigs showed a higher intramuscular fat percentage (4.3% vs. 3.3%), a lower protein content (22.2% vs. 23.4%), and higher free water (9.6 vs. 7.9 cm
2). Outdoor pigs produced more light (
L
*=50 vs. 46.7) and more yellow (
b
*=5.84 vs. 4.88) meat. Subcutaneous fat of outdoor pigs showed higher percentages of MUFA (53.3% vs. 47.2%) and lower percentages of PUFA (10.85% vs. 14.45%), no differences were found for
n−3 PUFA. Outdoor-pigs had lower atherogenicity (0.48 vs. 0.53) and thrombogenicity (1.03 vs. 1.21) indices.
Migraine is a highly prevalent and disabling disease that is substantially undiagnosed in primary care. Recently, the ID Migraine, a self-administered questionnaire, was shown to be a valid and ...reliable screener for migraine in primary care in the USA. To validate an Italian version of the ID Migraine, we planned a multicentric study, evaluating at least 220 patients affected by various form of headache. The responses to the questionnaire were compared with the diagnosis of headache made by a headache specialist blind to the result of the questionnaire. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for migraine were calculated. The statistical analysis on 140 patients now examined showed a very good performance of the ID Migraine with high sensitivity: 0.94 (95% CI: 0.89-0.95), specificity: 0.70 (95% CI: 0.54-0.86) and positive predictive value: 0.89 (0.82-0.95). If confirmed, these results would establish ID Migraine as a valid screening instrument for migraine in Italian headache patients and warrant further investigation in primary care to assess the validity of this ID screener in Italian population.
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