Challenges in the gynecologic care of premenopausal women with breast cancer

Premenopausal women with a new diagnosis of breast cancer are faced with many challenges. Providing health care for issues such as gynecologic comorbidities, reproductive health concerns, and vasomotor symptom control can be complicated because of the risks of hormone treatments and the adverse effects of adjuvant therapies. It is paramount that health care professionals understand and be knowledgeable about hormonal and nonhormonal treatments and their pharmacological parameters so they can offer appropriate care to women who have breast cancer, with the goal of improving quality of life. Articles for this review were identified by searching the PubMed database with no date limitations. The following search terms were used: abnormal uterine bleeding, physiologic sex steroids, endometrial ablation, hysteroscopic sterilization, fertility preservation in endometrial cancer, tranexamic acid and breast cancer, menorrhagia treatment and breast cancer, abnormal uterine bleeding and premenopausal breast cancer, levonorgestrel IUD and breast cancer, tamoxifen and gynecologic abnormalities, tamoxifen metabolism, hormones and breast cancer risk, contraception and breast cancer, pregnancy and breast cancer, and breast cancer and infertility treatment.

[New possibilities for elimination of human papillomavirus from the organism]

The variety of mechanisms of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection suggests that the success of treatment depends on the choice of a universal method, which combines the actions of etiotropic, pathogenetic and symptomatic approaches, without causing unwanted side effect. All these requirements are met by a drug based on the products of plant origin - Indinol. The observed patients with resistant forms of genital warts were divided into 3 groups: first group received the treatment according to the standard, conventional scheme; patients of the second group in addition to the standard scheme 2 times a day (for 90 days) received 2 capsules of Indinol (200 mg) and the patients of third group simultaneously with Indinol undergo infrared irradiation. The results of the observation have shown that the addition of Indinol to the standard treatment had a significant positive effect on the healing process of patients with resistant forms of genital warts. The effects of the Indinol in combination with infrared therapy revealed a statistically significant reduction (3 times) the frequency of relapses in cases of clinically sever forms of disease. Thus, during combined treatment of patients with recurrent, clinically severe forms of genital HPV, it is advisable to use the Indinol, which evidently has the well pronounced virus-eliminative and anti-recurrent actions.

Pediatric urologic conditions, including urinary infections

Genitourinary complaints are common in children, and the busy primary care provider must determine initial treatment and assess need for specialty referral. Many complaints are self-limited, but some represent disorders that can threaten organ function. In this article, an initial approach in the primary care office and a guide to specialty referral for pediatric urologic conditions of the urinary tract, male genitalia, and female genitalia are suggested.

[Comparative assessment of the methods of treatment of Condylomata acuminata]

The treatment of Condylomata acuminata often causes disappointment to both the physician and the patient since most of the current medical approaches require multiple examines while on the other hand success rates are low and recurrence rates remain high. The treatment approaches include surgical as well as non-surgical methods. The non-surgical treatment includes the application of local agents such as imiquimod, podophyllotoxin, and 5-fluorouracil. Other local agents, used in outpatient treatment settings, include trichloroacetic acid (TCA), podophyllin, or the intralesional application of agents such as interferon and bleomycin. The surgical methods include cryotherapy, electrosurgery, excision and laser therapy. Their major goal is the removal of the visible lesions. The development of the laser systems and the new HPV vaccines are a significant progress in the treatment and prevention of the HPV infections.

Genital psoriasis: A systematic literature review on this hidden skin disease

It is well known that the genital skin may be affected by psoriasis. However, little is known about the prevalence and clinical appearance of genital psoriasis, and genital skin is often neglected in the treatment of psoriatic patients. We performed an extensive systematic literature search for evidence-based data on genital psoriasis with respect to epidemiology, aetiology, clinical and histopathological presentation, diagnosis and treatment. Three bibliographical databases (PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library) were used as data sources. Fifty-nine articles on genital psoriasis were included. The results show that psoriasis frequently affects the genital skin, but that evidence-based data with respect to the efficacy and safety of treatments for genital psoriasis are extremely limited. An advised treatment paradigm for genital psoriasis, based on the levels of evidence, is: first-line: (weak) topical corticosteroids; second-line: vitamin D preparations or tar-based treatments.

Medical treatments for endometriosis

Despite the extensive research, endometriosis remains an enigmatic disease as up to now there is no consensus regarding the exact underlying mechanisms which could explain its development and progress. A local environment enriched in estrogens, progesterone resistance, local inflammatory response and multiple other molecular alterations appear to be pivotal events in the establishment and development of ectopic tissue. In the light of the evidence produced by molecular pathology research, in vivo and in vitro studies, modifications in current treatment options are anticipated. Current management of endometriosis is based on pharmacologic treatment and surgical intervention. In particular, combined oral contraceptives, danazol, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues and progestins have been extensively used in clinical practice. Novel agents that will hopefully improve the therapeutic potential include aromatase inhibitors, immunomodulators, anti-inflammatory agents, steroids receptor modulators and GnRH antagonists. It is still early for enthusiasm as there is limited knowledge about their short- and long-term side effects, their optimal administration route, their selectivity towards their target genes and the duration of treatment. Although there is a continual report of novel findings, the application of them in clinical practice is a long-lasting procedure requiring longitudinal clinical trials so as to achieve a balance between efficacy and safety.

Management of common psittacine reproductive disorders in clinical practice

The reproductive organs play a key role in the maintenance of normal homeostasis in psittacine birds. For this reason, sex determination should be part of the baseline data collected on every avian patient. Disorders of the psittacine reproductive tract can have a negative effect on the function of other organ systems in the body. Reproductive organs may be plagued by a multitude of problems ranging from infection and neoplasia to inflammation and idiopathic issues that affect fertility. Detection of reproductive problems may require the use of a variety of modalities. The ability to treat these problems often depends on the presenting complaint as well as the clinical condition of the avian patient. Different reproductive disorders of male and female psittacine birds, with their detection and treatment are discussed in this article.

Current therapy for condyloma acuminata of the patients attending female STD Unit, Siriraj Hospital

OBJECTIVE

To describe the treatment pattern of condyloma acuminata in female.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The 5-year medical records of 449 women treated for genital condyloma acuminata at the Gynecologic Infectious Diseases and Female Sexually Transmitted Disease (GID-FSTD) unit were reviewed. Data included the distribution of age, client by category, anatomical site and size, serologically coexisting sexually transmitted infection (STI), and treatment modalities.

RESULTS

About half, 50.1%, of treatment was the application of topical trichloroacetic acid; followed by podophylline in the proportion of 35.5%. While the electric cauterization and imiquimod applications were uncommon therapy. Two-fifth ofthe subjects, 40.7%, was completely cured, and the remaining cases required additional management.

CONCLUSION

The present setting, the wide range of treatment available is reflection of the fact that there is no ideal management.

[Endometriosis]

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependant disease that affects 10 to 15% of women of reproductive age. Its aetiology and molecular mechanisms involved have not yet been fully explored. Endometriosis is defined by the presence of endometrium-like tissue outside the uterus, primarily on the pelvic peritoneum and ovaries. The main clinical features are chronic pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, and infertility. Due to the limitations of clinical examination, additional explorations such as transvaginal sonography and magnetic resonance imaging are required to precise mapping of endometriotic lesions. Medical therapies based on progesterone and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists have a suspensive effect. In some cases, surgery is necessary and will be best achieved in specialized centers.

Symptomatology of gynecological malignancies: experiences in the gynecology out-patient clinic of a tertiary care hospital in kolkata, India

BACKGROUND

This cross-sectional observational study was undertaken in a gynecology out-patient clinic to identify the symptoms suggestive of gynecological malignancies followed by histopathological confirmation of their diagnoses and to determine the proportion of the histopathologically confirmed cases specific to sites.

METHODS

In a gynecology out-patient clinic in Kolkata, India, patients with symptoms suggestive of gynecological malignancies were screened to identify possible cancer cases. Diagnoses were confirmed by histopathology. One hundred thirteen patients with histopathologically confirmed gynecological malignancies were interviewed further.

RESULTS

This study shows that 5.3% of the overall outpatients or nearly one-fourth (23.7%) of the patients with the symptoms suggestive of gynecological malignancies was histopathologically confirmed as having gynecological malignancies. Most of the patients (87.0%) with the symptoms suggestive of gynecological malignancies reported excessive, offensive with or without blood stained vaginal discharge, followed by irregular, heavy or prolonged vaginal bleeding (61.4%). The commonest histopathologically confirmed gynecological malignancy was cervical cancer (61.9%), followed by ovarian cancer (23.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the need to increase the awareness about the symptoms of gynecological malignancies among women and the community. Health care personnel have a major role to identify the warning symptoms early for further investigation of the possible cases of gynecological malignancies.

[Diagnostic-therapeutic guidelines for men whose partners have HPV genital infection]

Human papilloma virus infection is the most frequent sexually transmitted disease. HPV infections are connected with different diseases such as benign warts, condylomata acuminata, malignant cervical, vulvar, vaginal, penile and anal carcinoma. Peniscopy with HPV detection is a specific diagnostic method for diagnosis of subclinical HPV genital infection in asymptomatic men. Taking the samples for HPV detection from asymptomatic men with curette is more qualitative way of getting enough samples then taking swab with wooden stick or (tongue) depressor. Early diagnosis and treatment of HPV infections in men is of potential benefit because their eradication can reduce the viral reservoir and as the result of that the incidence of CIN, carcinoma in situ and invasive cervical carcinoma can be reduced. For the correct diagnosis and for choosing the adequate therapeutical technique, we suggest diagnostic-therapeutic guidelines for HPV genital infection in men.

[Characteristics of hemodynamic and skin temperature during application of individually prescribed and corrected magnetotherapeutic regimes (experimental study)]

The objective of this study was to determine functional characteristics of the cardiovascular system and skin temperature believed to adequately reflect its response to the action of an alternating magnetic field (AMF). The estimated parameters included index of cardiovascular regulation and average temperature of the body surface. The time and the skin temperature were determined for each value of regulation index at which AMF action should be terminated. Algorithm for the choice of the AMF treatment regime and its correction depending on body surface temperature and its correlation with the index of cardiovascular regulation.

High intensity focused ultrasound in the treatment of abdominal and gynaecological diseases

In recent years high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has received increasing interest as a non-invasive modality for the treatment of tumours of solid organs. Surgeons continue their quest to find the optimal technique whereby a diseased organ can be treated with a minimum of damage to the patient, while providing a comprehensive treatment to produce either cure or resolution of symptoms. Two of the areas in which HIFU is beginning to establish itself as a real therapeutic alternative, are in the treatment of abdominal and gynaecological disease. In this paper, we will review the literature available regarding the use of HIFU in the treatment of various organs: liver, kidney, pancreas, bladder, uterus and vulva.

Treating gynaecological disorders with traditional Chinese medicine: a review

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has significant advantages in treating gynaecological disorders. The paper has provided a brief introduction on the current progress of treating some gynaecological disorders including endometriosis, infertility, dysmenorrhea, abnormal uterine bleeding, premenstrual syndrome, menopausal syndrome, uterine fibroids, chronic pelvic inflammation, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), cervicitis and vaginitis with Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) and acupuncture. The use of TCM in the field of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) has also been included in the review. In addition, thirty-two commonly used Chinese medicinal formulas in treating gynaecological disorders have been introduced.

Emergency service in an ambulatory outpatient women's health centre

In order to optimise the service for patients who require an emergency service, and to meet patient needs, we conducted a study in Shillo ambulatory outpatient women's health centre, affiliated to Rabin Medical Center and Tel Aviv University. The study population consisted of 512 women, aged 25 - 55 years, attending the centre for emergency consultation and urgent obstetrics and gynaecological day care. Before the doctor's visit and at the end of the session, the women were asked to complete a 20-item questionnaire survey. The most common complaints were related to pregnancy complications (29%). Significant improvement in their problems was reported by almost 70% of these women; 20% thought that the information they received was inadequate or unsatisfactory. Less than 10% were referred to the hospital for further care such as surgery. Most of the women (96%) reported that they would continue to use these emergency services in the future if needed. There was a statistically significant difference between the doctors' opinion and the nurse regarding the urgency and severity of the patients' problems. The nurses graded them lower than did the doctors. There was also a statistically significant difference between patients' opinion and the nurses and the doctors regarding the urgency and severity of the patients' problems. The patients graded the problems as more urgent and more severe than the nurses or doctors. We concluded that an ambulatory emergency service is an essential part of an ideal ambulatory womens' health centre but it requires substantial progress to meet the patients' needs.