Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2017;39(6):288-293
To evaluate the expressions of biomarkers p16 and Ki-67 in low-grade (LG) or high-grade (HG) lesions, and to relate them to risk factors and the recurrence of these lesions.
A retrospective case-control study of 86 patients with LG and HG lesions who underwent a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) between 1999 and 2004. The control group was composed of 69 women with no recurrence, and the study group, of 17 patients with recurrence. All patients were followed-up over a two-year period after surgery, and screened every six months, including cytology and colposcopy. Biopsy samples collected from LEEP were submitted to immunohistochemical analysis for p16 and Ki-67. The statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (SPSS, IBM-SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, US), with a significant p < 0.05.
The biomarkers p16 and Ki-67, separately or combined, showed no relation to recurrence on the total analysis. However, evaluating specifically HG lesions, the positive expression (2+ and 3 + ) of p16/Ki-67 was associated with recurrence (0.010). In addition, p16 isolated was also more expressive in HG lesions (2+ and 3 + , p= 0.018), but it was unrelated to recurrence.
Proteins p16 and Ki-67, both isolated and combined, are not reliable primary markers for the recurrence of cervical lesions in the majority of LG lesions. However, analyzing only the group with prior diagnosis of HG lesions, the expressions of p16 and of p16/Ki-67 were associated with recurrence, and they may be useful in monitoring these cases.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2017;39(6):282-287
The views of infertile couples regarding oocyte donation by third parties and adoption are unknown, as these may be interpreted as a final closure of the available options for conception. This study aimed to determine the acceptance of oocyte donation, oocyte reception, and child adoption of infertile women who submitted to assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment
Sixty-nine women who were under treatment for infertility and submitted to ART procedures were included in this cross-sectional study. They were evaluated using semi-structured questionnaires administered during ovulation induction in a treatment cycle. Marital status, religion, years of schooling, occupation, type of infertility, age, duration of infertility, number of previous ART cycles, mean oocyte number per cycle, and mean number of embryos per cycle had no influence on a woman’s acceptance of oocyte donation or oocyte reception.
More than 90% of the patients thought that the subject of “adoption” should be brought up during their ART treatments, although they preferred to discuss this topic with psychologists, not doctors. Women with occupations were more willing to consider adoption.
The opinions of these patients on these issues seem to be based on personal concepts and ethical, religious, and moral values. Women preferred to discuss adoption with psychologists rather than doctors.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2017;39(6):273-281
To evaluate the magnitude of the association of the polymorphisms of the genes PGR, CYP17A1 and CYP19A1 in the development of endometriosis.
This is a retrospective case-control study involving 161 women with endometriosis (cases) and 179 controls. The polymorphisms were genotyped by real-time polymerase chain reaction using the TaqMan system. The association of the polymorphisms with endometriosis was evaluated using the multivariate logistic regression.
The endometriosis patients were significantly younger than the controls (36.0±7.3 versus 38.0±8.5 respectively, p = 0.023), and they had a lower body mass index (26.3±4.8 versus 27.9±5.7 respectively, p = 0.006), higher average duration of the menstrual flow (7.4±4.9 versus 6.1±4.4 days respectively, p = 0.03), and lower average time intervals between menstrual periods (25.2±9.6 versus 27.5±11.1 days respectively, p = 0.05). A higher prevalence of symptoms of dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, infertility and intestinal or urinary changes was observed in the case group when compared with the control group. The interval between the onset of symptoms and the definitive diagnosis of endometriosis was 5.2±6.9 years. When comparing both groups, significant differences were not observed in the allelic and genotypic frequencies of the polymorphisms PGR + 331C > T, CYP17A1 -34A > G and CYP19A1 1531G > A, even when considering the symptoms, classification and stage of the endometriosis. The combined genotype PGR + 331TT/CYP17A1 -34AA/CYP19A11531AA is positively associated with endometriosis (odds ratio [OR] = 1.72; 95% confidence interval [95%CI] = 1.09-2.72).
The combined analysis of the polymorphisms PGR-CYP17A1-CYP19A1 suggests a gene-gene interaction in the susceptibility to endometriosis. These results may contribute to the identification of biomarkers for the diagnosis and/or prognosis of the disease and of possible molecular targets for individualized treatments.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2017;39(6):265-272
To evaluate maternal-fetal surveillance and follow-up of infants at risk for congenital syphilis (CS).
Retrospective cohort study in a Portuguese Tertiary Referral Hospital. The main inclusion criterion was a positive syphilis serology. The study included all pregnant women that delivered in our hospital between January 2004 and December 2013. The neonates were classified according to their probability of infection based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
Among the 27 pregnancies at risk for CS, 48.2% (n = 13) of the women had a diagnosis during the 1st trimester, and the median gestational age at the end of the treatment was 28 weeks. Inadequate treatment was noted in 44.4% (n = 12) of the women. Adverse pregnancy outcomes were observed in 30.8% of the cases (n = 8), 5 of which had been adequately treated. We found 2 (7.7%) cases with “proven or highly probable CS,” 10 (38.5%) with “possible CS,” 12 (46.1%) with “less likely CS,” and 2 (7.7%) with “unlikely CS.”Among the infants, the treatment was successful, except for 1 neurosyphilis case.
This study highlights many of the difficulties/concerns encountered in the maternal-neonatal management of syphilis. We highlight the importance of assuring the early detection of the infection as a way of guaranteeing the timely treatment, as well as a good compliance to the treatment and follow-up through a more efficient pregnant women surveillance network.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2017;39(6):258-264
In the pregnancy-puerperal cycle, women may develop complications that require admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Thus, special attention to pharmacotherapy is necessary, particularly to potential drug interactions (PDIs) and to the effect of the drugs on the fetus and newborn.
The aim of this study was to determine the profile of PDIs and the potential risk of drugs used during pregnancy and breastfeeding among patients admitted to the ICU.
We conducted an observational, cross-sectional and prospective study, including pregnant and breastfeeding women admitted to the ICU at the Women’s Hospital of a university in the city of Campinas, Brazil, for one year. Online databases were used to identify and classify the PDIs and the potential risk of the drugs used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
We evaluated 305 prescriptions of 58 women, 31 pregnant and 27 breastfeeding, and 284 (91%) prescriptions presented PDIs. A total of 175 different combinations of PDIs were identified in the prescriptions, and adverse effects caused by the simultaneous use of drugs were not actually observed in the clinical practice. A total of 26 (1.4%) PDIs were classified as contraindicated. We identified 15 (13.8%) drugs prescribed with risk D, and 2 (1.8%) with risk X for pregnant women, as well as 4 (4.9%) drugs prescribed with high risk for breastfeeding women.
This study demonstrates that there is a high incidence of PDIs in prescriptions. Most drugs used by pregnant and breastfeeding women at the ICU did not present serious risks to their fetus and newborns, but sometimes drugs with risk D or X are necessary in the course of the treatment.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2017;39(4):184-194
Sexual pleasure is fundamental for the maintenance of health and well-being, but it may be adversely affected by medical and psychosocial conditions. Many patients only feel that their health is fully restored after they resume normal sexual activities. Any discussion of sexuality in a doctor's office is typically limited, mainly because of a lack of models or protocols available to guide the discussion of the topic.
To present a model designed to guide gynecologists in the management of female sexual complaints.
This study presents a protocol used to assess women's sexual problems. A semi-structured interview is used to assess sexual function, and the teaching, orienting and permitting (TOP) intervention model that was designed to guide gynecologists in the management of sexual complaints.
The use of protocols may facilitate the discussion of sexual issues in gynecological settings, and has the potential to provide an effective approach to the complex aspects of sexual dysfunction in women. The TOP model has three phases: teaching the sexual response, in which the gynecologist explains the physiology of the female sexual response, and focuses on the three main phases thereof (desire, excitement and orgasm); orienting a woman toward sexual health, in which sexual education is used to provide information on the concept and healthy experience of sexuality; and permitting and stimulating sexual pleasure, which is based on the assumption that sexual pleasure is an individual right and is important for the physical and emotional well-being.
The use of protocols may provide an effective approach to deal with female sexual dysfunction in gynecological offices.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2017;39(4):175-183
The objective of this study was to investigate the self-esteem of women with and without breast cancer regarding their body image.
A quantitative, case-control study in which 90 women with breast cancer were evaluated in the case group, and 77 women without breast cancer in the control group. For data collection, the body satisfaction scale (BSS), a scale adapted and validated in Brazil, and the Rosenberg self-esteem questionnaire were used. For the statistical analysis of the data, the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (IBM-SPSS, Chicago, Il, US), version 16.0 was used.
Compared with the women without breast cancer, those with breast cancer were more dissatisfied with body image related to appearance. Women undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy were more dissatisfied with their appearance compared with those with cancer who were not undergoing this treatment. Mastectomy also accounted for more dissatisfaction concerning appearance among women who underwent the procedure compared with the women who were submitted to breast-conserving therapy.
Women with breast cancer were more dissatisfied with their body image compared with those without breast cancer, particularly following mastectomy or during chemotherapy. The self-esteem was found to be negatively affected in patients who were dissatisfied with their body image.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2017;39(4):169-174
Vaginal pessary is used as a conservative treatment for pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Some studies have shown that common complaints of its use may include vaginal discomfort and increased vaginal discharge. Scant information is available about the microflora status after using this device.
To determine if the usage of vaginal pessary can interfere with the vaginal environment.
A cross-sectional study was performed from March of 2014 to July of 2015 including 90 women with POP. The study group was composed of 45 women users of vaginal pessary and 45 nom-users. All enrolled women answered a standardized questionnaire and were subjected to a gynecological exam to collect vaginal samples for microbiological evaluation under optic microscopy. Clinical and microbiological data were compared between study and control groups.
Vaginal discharge was confirmed in 84% of the study group versus 62.2% in the control group (p< 0.01); itching was reported in 20 and 2.2%, respectively (p< .05); genital ulcers were only found in the pessary group (20%). There was no difference with regard to the type of vaginal flora. Bacterial vaginosis was prevalent in the study group (31.1% study group versus 22.2% control group), (p=.34).
Women using vaginal pessaries for POP treatment presented more vaginal discharge, itching and genital ulcers than non-users.