Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2012;34(10):459-465
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032012001000005
PURPOSES: To assess whether an enoxaparin-based intervention using a score system was effective in improving perinatal outcome in women with thrombophilia. METHODS: Study Design: Prospective, not randomized, uncontrolled, performed at a Clinic of High-Risk Pregnancy from November 2009 to November 2011. We included women with a diagnosis and therapeutic intervention for thrombophilia acquired and/or inherited in the current pregnancy. The obstetric and perinatal outcomes of pregnant women before the intervention were compared with outcomes after the intervention, and statistically analyzed using the χ2 test with Yates correction, considered significant when p<0.05. The initial dose of low-molecular-weight Heparin (LMWH) was guided by a scoring system based on the clinical and gestational history of the patients and screening tests for acquired and/or inherited thrombophilia. RESULTS: We included 84 pregnant women with 175 pregnancies before diagnosis, 20.0% of which resulted in fetal ou perinatal death, 40.0% resulted in abortion, 17.7% developed preeclampsia/eclampsia, 10.3% resulted in full-term births, and 29.7% in premature births. In the 84 pregnancies after intervention, 6.0% resulted in fetal ou perinatal death, 1.2% in abortion, 4.8% developed preeclampsia/eclampsia, 22.6% resulted in premature birth, and 70.2% in full-term birth. A significant reduction in the rate of stillbirths/perinatal death (p<0.05) and abortion (p<0.0001) and a significant increase (p<0.05) in the number of live births were observed after intervention. CONCLUSION: Enoxaparin-based intervention using a score system in pregnant women with thrombophilia is effective in improving perinatal outcome.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2012;34(10):453-458
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032012001000004
PURPOSES: To assess the quality of life of breast cancer survivors compared to a sample of age-matched healthy women. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was conducted on 199 consecutive breast cancer survivors, one year or more after diagnosis, treated at two large hospitals. The patients were compared to age-matched healthy women consisting of employees and volunteers of the two hospitals. Quality of life was evaluated using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire, version Bref (WHOQOL-bref) and socioeconomic, clinical, and treatment data were obtained. The χ² test and a generalized linear model were used for statistical analysis. The adopted level of significance was 5%. RESULTS: The mean age of breast cancer survivors was 54.4 years (SD=10.4) and the average length of time since diagnosis was 5.0 years (SD=4.6). The survivors reported a poorer overall quality of life (p=0.001), and for the physical (p<0.001), psychological (p=0.002) and environment (p=0.029) domains than the comparison group, after adjusting for potential confounders. There was no significant difference in the social relationships domain (p=0.929) between groups. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that many breast cancer survivors experienced worse quality of life assessment than healthy women. This information may be useful to establish strategies to improve the quality of life of women with breast cancer.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2012;34(11):524-529
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032012001100008
PURPOSE: To evaluate the concordance between polarization microscopy and confocal microscopy techniques in the evaluation of the meiotic spindle of human oocytes matured in vivo. METHODS: Prospective study that evaluated oocytes with the first polar extruded body obtained from infertile women who had undergone ovarian stimulation for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. The oocytes with the first polar extruded body were evaluated by polarization microscopy and were then immediately fixed and stained for microtubule and chromatin evaluation by high-performance confocal microscopy. We determined the correlation of polarization microscopy with confocal microscopy in the detection of meiotic oocyte anomalies, and we also evaluated the percentage of oocytes with a visible and non-visible cell spindle by polarization microscopy and with meiotic normality and abnormalities by confocal microscopy. Confidence intervals, Kappa's index and concordance between the methodologies were calculated, considering immunofluorescence microscopy analysis as the golden-standard for evaluating normal spindle and oocyte chromosome distribution. RESULTS: We observed that 72.7% of metaphase II oocytes with a nonvisible meiotic spindle by polarization microscopy showed no meiotic abnormalities by confocal analysis and 55.6% of metaphase II oocytes with a visible meiotic spindle by polarization microscopy were found to be abnormal oocytes by the confocal analysis. Only 44.4% of oocytes with a visible meiotic spindle by polarization microscopy were found to be normal by confocal analysis. Concordance between the methods was 51.1% (Kappa: 0.11; 95%CI -0.0958 - 0.319). CONCLUSIONS: The low correlation between polarization microscopy and confocal microscopy in the assessment of oocyte meiotic spindle suggests that visualization of the meiotic spindle of human oocytes at metaphase II by polarization microscopy is not a good indicator of oocyte meiotic normality.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2012;34(10):447-452
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032012001000003
PURPOSES: To evaluate the histomorphometry of cardiomyocytes and collagen present in the myocardium of rats treated with a concentrated extract of soy or 17β-estradiol (E2). METHODS: Twenty-eight rats were divided into four groups: GCtrl - estrus phase; GOvx - ovariectomized (Ovx) and receiving vehicle; GIso - Ovx and treated with soy extract (150 mg/kg per day); GE2 - Ovx and treated with E2 (10 µg/kg per day). The drugs and vehicle (0.2 mL propylene glycol) were administered for 30 consecutive days after ovariectomy. On the last day the animals were anesthetized, the hearts removed, submerged in 10% formaldehyde and fragments of the ventricles underwent histological procedures, and the sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin or picrosirius-red. Histomorphometric analysis (number and volume of nuclei and quantification of collagen) was performed under a light microscope with AxioVision Rel. 4.2 software, and collagen fibers were quantified using IMAGELAB-2000 software. Data were submitted to ANOVA followed by the Tukey test (p<0.05). RESULTS: We observed a higher number of cardiomyocyte nuclei in animals of the Ovx and Iso groups than in GE2 and GCtrl animals (GOvx=121.7±20.2=GIso=92.8±15.4>GE2=70.5±14,8=GCtrl=66.3±9.6; p <0.05), while the nuclear volume was greater in the Ctrl and E2 groups (GE2=35.7±4.8 GCtrl=29.9±3.6=>GIso=26.5±4.5=GOvx=22.4±2.9; p <0.05). Collagen concentration was higher in the Ovx group (GOvx=5.4±0.1>GCtrl=4.0±0.1=GIso=4.4±0.08=GE2=4.3±0.5; p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Estrogen may prevent the reduction of the nuclear volume of cardiomyocytes and collagen deposition between heart muscle fibers, while the administration of isoflavones only prevents the deposition of collagen, which can preserve the mechanical properties of cardiac fibers.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2012;34(11):518-523
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032012001100007
PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with failure of voluntary screening for cervical cancer during the gestational period in Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul State, Southern Brazil. METHODS: Previously trained interviewers applied a standardized questionnaire in the maternity to all mothers from this municipality who had delivered from January 1st to December 31st 2010 to obtain information about the demographic characteristics of the pregnant women, family socioeconomic status, and prenatal care received. The χ² test was used to compare proportions and Poisson regression with robust adjustment of variance was used in the multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Among the 2,288 respondents, 33% were not submitted to the Pap smear during pregnancy. Two thirds of these women stated that they were not aware of the need to perform it, 18% were not screened out of fear or shame, and the rest for other reasons. After adjustment, the highest prevalence ratios (PR) for noncompliance with the Pap smear occurred among young women (PR=1.5; 95%CI 1.25 - 1.80), with lower educational level (PR=1.5; 95%CI 1.12 - 2.12), who were living without a partner (PR=1.4; 95%CI 1.24 - 1.62), smokers (PR=1.2; 95%CI 1.07 - 1.39), who did not plan the current pregnancy (PR=1.3; 95%CI 1,21 - 1.61), who had attended less than six medical visits during the prenatal period (PR=1.4; 95%CI 1.32 - 1.69) and among users of oral contraceptives (PR=1.2; 95%CI 1.04 - 1.38). CONCLUSIONS: The higher the risk for uterine cervical cancer, the less likely a pregnant woman is to undergo a Pap smear. This definitely contributed to the increased morbidity and mortality from this disease in this setting.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2012;34(11):511-517
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032012001100006
PURPOSE: To assess the association between clinical symptoms and the diagnosis of malignancy in women with adnexal tumors who underwent surgery. METHODS: Cross-sectional study, in which 105 women with adnexal tumors and indication for laparotomy/laparoscopy were included. All women were treated at a teaching hospital in the state of São Paulo between November 2009 and March 2011. All patients underwent a structured interview about the occurrence of 18 symptoms associated with ovarian cancer. The interview included the severity, frequency, and duration of these symptoms in the 12 months prior to the first medical consultation. The CA125 levels and the ultrasound classification of the tumors were also evaluated. We calculated for each symptom the prevalence ratio with 95% confidence intervals. The golden-standard was the result of the pathological examination of the surgical specimens. RESULTS: Of the 105 women included, 75 (71.4%) had benign tumors and 30 (28.6%) had malignant ones. In women with malignant tumors, the most frequent symptoms were: abdominal bloating (70%), increased abdominal size (67%), pelvic pain (60%), menstrual irregularity (60%), swelling (53%), abdominal pain (50%), backache (50%), and early repletion (50%). Women with benign tumors showed essentially pelvic pain (61%), menstrual irregularities (61%), and abdominal swelling (47%). Symptoms significantly associated with malignancy were: bloating (PR=2.0; 95%CI 1.01 - 3.94), increased abdominal size (PR=2.16; 95%CI 1.12 - 4.16), backache (RP=1.97; 95%CI 1.09 - 3.55), swelling (PR=2.25; 95%CI 1.25 - 4.07), early repletion (RP=2.06; 95%CI 1.14 - 3.70), abdominal mass (PR=1.83; 95%CI 1.01 - 3.30), eating difficulties (PR=1.98; 95%CI 1.10 - 3.56), and postmenopausal bleeding (PR=2.91; 95%CI 1.55 - 5.44). The presence of pelvic pain, constipation, dyspareunia, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, menstrual irregularity, weight loss, diarrhea, and bleeding after intercourse was similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: In women with adnexal tumors including indication of surgical treatment, the preoperative evaluation of symptoms may help predicting malignancy.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2012;34(11):505-510
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032012001100005
PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of adding biofeedback (BF) to the training of pelvic floor muscles (PFMT) for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS: A prospective pilot study, randomized and controlled with women with SUI without sphincter deficiency, detected by urodynamic study and who performed the correct PFM contraction. Women with neuromuscular disorders and grade III and IV genital prolapse were excluded. Forty women were randomized into a Control Group and BF Group. The PFMT protocol with BF equipment consisted of three sets of ten slow contractions (tonic), with a holding time of six to eight seconds at each contraction followed by a rest period of equal duration. After each sustained contraction, they performed three to four fast contractions (phasic) in the supine and standing position twice a week, for a total of 12 sessions. We evaluated the effect of adding BF to PFMT on quality of life using King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) regarding urinary symptoms based on a voiding diary and regarding the function of pelvic floor muscles by digital palpation. The evaluation was performed initially and after 12 treatment sessions. Data are reported as mean and standard deviation. The Mann-Whitney test was used for the analysis of homogeneity and to determine differences between groups, and the Wilcoxon test was used to determine possible differences between the times of observation, with the level of significance set at 0.05. RESULTS: A significant decrease in the scores of the domains assessed by the KHQ was observed in the comparison between groups, except for the general health domain (BF Group: 32.8±26.9 versus Control Group: 48.4±29.5, p<0.13). Accordingly, there was improvement in PFM function after treatment in the BF Group, regarding power (4.3±0.8, p= 0.001), endurance (6.0±2.2, p<0.001) and fast (9.3±1.9, p=0.001). When comparing the groups, the BF Group showed a positive result regarding power (BF Group 4.3±0.8 versus Control Group 2.5±0.9, p<0.001), endurance (6.0±2.2 BF Group versus Control Group 2.7±1.9, p<0.001) and fast (BF Group 9.3±1.9 versus Control Group 4.6 ± 3.2, p<0.001). Reduction of nocturnal urinary frequency (1.2±1.2 versus 0.7±0.9, p=0.02) and of effort urine loss (1.5±1.4 versus 0.6±0.8, p=0.001) was observed in the BF Group. CONCLUSION: The addition of BF to the PFMT for the treatment of SUI, applied according to the protocol described, improved PFM function, reduced urinary symptoms, and improved of the quality of life.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2012;34(11):499-504
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032012001100004
PURPOSE: To detect the presence of Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 (HSV-2) DNA in cervical samples from women assisted in a primary health care clinic in the city of Coari, Amazonas, Brazil. METHODS: Participated in this study 361 sexually active women between 18 and 78 years. They were been assisted in a Basic Health Care Clinic for routine gynecological exam. The cervical samples were collected using endocervical brush. The viruses were detected using real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique. RESULTS: Mean age was 36.4 years (standard deviation (SD)=13.4). HCMV DNA was found in cervical samples from 30 women (8.3%; IC95% 5.8 - 11.8) and HSV 2 DNA in 2 women (0.6%; IC95% 0.1 - 2.2). Two women related being HIV positive, one of them infected with HCMV. There were no statistically significant associations between infections by the pathogens studied and socioeconomic, clinical or behavioral variables. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of the HCMV infection found in the sample points to the need for screening of the virus during pregnancy and surveillance in immunocompromised patients. The low prevalence of HSV-2 found is probably due to the fact that cervical sampling is not appropriate for this type of study because of the characteristics of viral biology related to neurovirulence.